The Story Of My New York City Subway Ticket
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

The Story Of My New York City Subway Ticket

This is a story of how my vulnerability helped me and how I have changed.

16
The Story Of My New York City Subway Ticket

Stranded. A stranger. An alien to the concrete jungle that surrounds me; no one cares who I am or what I do. Lost.

When I first moved to New York City, my banking system was all messed up. Not only did I not have a physical debit card—lost in a mail transaction—but my credit card would not work and I had no cash on me. In order to fix the situation, I would have to take a car, ferry and subway to get to the nearest bank. However, I lacked essential resources—a metro card. I didn’t really put it all together—that I was lost, alone, and with no form of payment—until I was high and dry at Whitehall and South Ferry. After that realization, I kind of just lost it. I frantically called Wells Fargo and searched for spare change on the streets of New York. Nothing was working. So I cried. In actuality, probably not the smartest plan of attack, but hey, shit happens.

Feeling sad and vulnerable, I sat on a park bench in Battery Park questioning what to do. A man next to me noticed my behavior and asked me what was wrong.

I began explaining to him the chaos of my problems, and although I thought he cared, in reality he didn’t; he “listened” to me as he was playing on his stupid telephone. Who was this asshole of a man and why was I wasting my time? By the end of telling this elaborate story, I was annoyed. Until, he looked up from his phone.

While I was telling him my horrible situation, I thought he wasn’t listening, but he was. Even more than that, he looked up the exact subway track I had to take to get to a bank in addition too pulling out an old metro card from his wallet. The metro card, he explained, had less than $5 on it, which was just the amount I needed to get to the bank.

He didn’t really say much. He didn’t really feel sympathy. He just handled it over.

And there, in Battery Park, my feeling of being an outsider evolved.

I was no longer lost.

Shortly after he gave me his ticket, I ran off. I turned around before fleeing, with big tears in my eyes, and said “Thank you, thank you so much.” He responded in such a classic New Yorker way. He said, “Please stop crying.”

I am able to look beyond the stupidity of the whole situation on my part, and realize how incredibly grateful I am of that man. He adjusted the idea to me of the power of an overwhelming city.

Said best by Ernst Mayr, "One can be a stranger in a big city, and it is the companionship and later friendship that is the most important thing to achieve, in order to succeed."

I tell this story now, because not only is it a situation I have grown from and am able to reflect upon, but also, that savior of a subway ticket just expired. I think it’s a nice culmination of the adjustment period I had for not only becoming a college student, but also, becoming street-smart in New York City. I am now ready to thrive in the mayhem of Manhattan, while always keeping my head on my shoulders.

To the man who helped me: thank you, thank you so much.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

50765
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

32480
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

955706
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

180752
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments