Before I headed to OU, my last summer adventure took place in New York City, a place I have now grown to love. I'll be honest, I haven't always had such a great love for New York. A couple of years ago if you'd have asked me if I would ever be considering living in New York, I would have responded that you were crazy, that I could never live in a place like New York. Of course, I loved Broadway (what theatre kid couldn't?), but other than that, I couldn't find the appeal of a massive city that never stopped moving. As I've grown older though, I've begun to see how New York relates to me. I've found that I'm always moving, always trying to innovate, and always looking for new opportunities to fall in love with. In addition, it's a photographer's dream- despite my not having enough time to truly explore and take pictures. New York is a place that fosters all these things, and I didn't truly understand this until my most recent trip.

The decision to cap my summer off with a trip to New York was most definitely a spontaneous one. My mom and I sat in a doctor's office complaining that we weren't going to get to go on a family vacation this summer due to our crazy hectic schedules. We realized we had a few days between the end of my summer internship and leaving for school. We booked the flights and secured tickets to Broadway shows that night, and thus, a trip to NYC was born.

When my family goes to New York, we go to New York to see Broadway shows- and that's it, especially in such a short trip as this one. We managed to cram six shows into a four day time-span, all phenomenal and inspiring. This was my first time to New York after deciding to be a stage management major, which threw a new lens onto this entire trip. Every show I saw was a goal of where I wanted to be and a demonstration of the industry I want to work in. I've found that as I've grown older, the world feels smaller and the more achievable my goals seem. There were many performers that were "a friend of a friend" or from Houston. It's wild to me that in a few years, those people on stage could be my friends (I know some will- I have some incredibly talented people in my life), or even me backstage. There's something about Broadway that makes you feel so connected, so present. I got to see so many amazing artists who I look up to, such as Cassie Levy and Celia Keenan-Bolger, and they're right there. It's incredibly empowering. It's all right there, and not so far out of reach.

I never understood it, but now I do. New York is for dreamers, lovers, and anyone who's willing to step out and face a challenge. I find myself missing the fast-paced energy of the city and feeling desperate to return. And I will, soon. A few years ago, I never dreamed that I'd say I'd be thinking about applying for internships in New York just to be in the city or considering living there, but I suppose that's truly a testament to how unexpected life can be and how events happen that can change our entire outlooks.

So NYC, I miss you, but I'll see you soon.

With Love,

Rachel