The cherry-stained floorboards creak below me as I walk up to the counter. One of my favorite albums, "Rubber Soul," blasts over the muffled stereo system as I swim through the sea of people with my precariously held, absurdly large latte (with extra caffeine and a pump of hazelnut) that I receive from the barista. Like always, I manage to bump into a plaid-clad, beanie-wearing male with my obscenely large Herschel backpack, which is teaming with camera equipment and piles of homework. We engage in a friendly banter as I ensure that my pea coat is not stained with coffee, and I leave with an unspoken sense of validation from him as I make my way towards an empty table in the back, illuminated by the golden rays of the early morning sun peaking its way through the dusty blinds.

Northside Social (or as the regulars refer to it as “NoSo”) has become my safe haven---a place of tranquility and peace. After a long week, it’s relieving to finally escape the incessant tidal waves of stress. At NoSo, I feel as if I can finally breathe again. I open Northside’s crooked, wooden red door and step into a welcoming environment filled with young urbanites and warm smiles.

Over the Sunday morning symphony of sounds, I can make out a few conversations: one is about someone’s latest art piece and another is about tips and tricks to HTML coding. No longer do I see waves of students awash with Lilly Pulitzer patterns and Brooks Brothers emblems (staples in many Northern Virginians' closets), but instead I see the individual, creative beings who fit seamlessly into the crowded and chaotic, sun-soaked shop.

As I silently sip my coffee in pure bliss and edit photos from a recent shoot of mine, all of my worries seem to fade into oblivion—that is, unless I realize midway through my stay that I didn’t put enough money in the parking meter. I no longer worry about challenging classes, family troubles or friend drama. Instead, I see older, more independent versions of myself, discussing their latest accomplishments or chatting about the latest book they read.

Although I do not have my entire future mapped out for me, I do know that I will thrive in an environment similar to Northside’s—a place filled with artistic energy and a quiet sense of camaraderie between myself and my peers, who are equal as accepting and driven as myself. It’s nice to know that during a time in which many struggles to be socially accepted that I will always have a place that welcomes me for who I am.