New York, it is the center of everything we know. Broadway, designer stores, museums, buildings, books – just to name a few. Yet, in such a small island we discover a bit of mishap and train traffic. In a world so full of people going to and from work, I began to wonder about the labels we see in society. Not the designer clothes or the designer brand, but labels we are accustomed to using. For example, the profession we choose has a title and so you are branded as that label. Almost like the sociology term of roles. However this idea may play, it has created some sort of mark in our communities.

Has society made us believe in these “roles” and created the ideas of stereotypes? It is almost like forcing some sort of identity to people. Women, for example, lose their last names and become Mrs., a wife and sometimes lose a lot for love. When we choose a career, we don’t think about the negative side of it or about the criticism; we do it because we love it. Yet somehow, the stigma of an artist still lives on – the starving artist brand. If we use labels to distinguish one another, shouldn’t it be okay to be different? It still a predicament I believe. The respect for others has somehow lost its meaning. We are constantly fooled by what we where told think of in school or by family. I was raised to believe that my culture and heritage was strong and to take pride in it. Well, I refuse to take pride in a society where we have a very bad label. However, in many other societies this idea of pride is marked forever as a scar in people's head. It is almost impossible to change someone's beliefs or ideas.

It is crazy how one island full of inhabitants all live in a dream state. It is an egotistical, determined and proud island. I have yet to see a selfless act happen. I am unfortunately under the same category, however, I have been trying to change it slowly. After discussing this idea of labels and our society with a few colleagues, I reminded myself why I chose this city to continue my dream. There is no place like it. Where you sleep no more, where you delve into new things every day and exploring becomes a hobby. If New Yorkers have a bad name, it is because we are definitely the most different city in the world. We bring culture together, although sometimes we do disagree, we always find our way back into the helping hands of a stranger. I have always lived off of the kindness of strangers. As my motto goes : look past what you have heard and find it for yourself.