I grew up in the corners of Acworth, Georgia, which is just a couple miles out from downtown Atlanta. I went to church each and every Sunday where parents rallied to bring prayer to school. I went to the Waffle House and ate at the Chick-fil-a every week. I hiked in the mountains and drove down empty streets at 10 p.m.

After 18 years of the same scenery, I decided to leave.

Now, I’m in New York and it was way more than I had expected.

I expected the noise and the homeless to be curled up on the side of the street, the crazy people and the immense amount of trash on the sidewalks, were a given. I expected rallies and protests between the crazy conservatives and liberal left winged people in the streets.

Yet, I didn’t anticipate much more to come out of this enchanting place I've come to love, New York.

Back home in Georgia, just about everything shut down after eight at night. Here, the city never sleeps. I have yet to see a store close earlier than 10 p.m. and I have yet to see an cold and empty street. The vibrant nightlife and the warm atmosphere is a complete one-eighty from what I had expected. When I was in Georgia, I never went out past 10 and I rarely returned home later than midnight. However, in my first week in New York, I was headed down St. Marks at two in the morning to get some cookies on my way to K-town for karaoke and dukbokki.

The city is alive and because of this I’ve already made incredible friendships with people I’d known for only a few months. There’s so much to do in this city. So much that the days feel so long and the nights even longer. Even with school, I still have a life in this city. With everything being connected, I can easily satisfy my everlasting appetite for adventures even after midnight, something that would be impossible in the south.

Parks are everywhere and, despite popular belief, are areas that I find quiet, serene and relaxing. Sort of like an oasis from the noise and chaos outside. I never expected this sense of placidity in New York parks, but now I feel like they are even more peaceful than the crowded, tourist infested parks back at home.

Farmers markets line the streets and food vendors are everywhere. The smell of fresh nuts and the ring of the ice cream truck are what complete the New York streets for me. Whereas farmers markets in the south are only seasonal and the food trucks can only be seen at festivals or outdoor concerts.

Growing up in a small town in the south, I didn’t think that I would find New York to be so tranquil, and yet that is exactly how I feel. On the streets, you go by unnoticed and you are rarely heckled or pressed. People are kind, yet rushed to get to their destination. It is a place for individuals, really.

Public and nevertheless private.

Although there are things that I miss about the south, like the cheap prices and the comfort food, but now I feel as though I am fixated on the New York route of life - I guess you could say I have an empire state of mind. I can feel it, the city, the people, the lights, the magic... encasing my entire mind and soul.

And when I return home on break I find myself missing the faint blare of sirens outside of my window, and my heart craves to stay up all night waiting for those unforgettable moments that could only happen in New York.

My story as a small town girl has already ended. It’s time for my second chapter.