Back to skl @ NYC
NYU Gal Pals!
In a week or so, I’ll be heading back to New York to complete my fourth and final year at NYU… As exciting as it may seem, I can’t help but also feel anxious and sad to leave home (the Philippines) and family behind. I may not be as wide-eyed and homesick as Freshman Kate, but I still experience #sepanxtothemax as my departure date creeps closer…
Being halfway across the globe from loved ones, particularly my family, is really tough because the older I get, the more I learn to appreciate their presence, support, and unconditional love. Both my parents and grandparents aren’t getting any younger… and so am I. The older I become, the more I realize what I want and what truly matters to me. I’m sure the same goes for you and if not, that’s totally fine! We all operate at our own special pace.
Although I agree that exploring abroad is enthralling and essential for self-discovery and growth, I do yearn for a sense of stability, security, and peace. After a while, you’ll probably want to settle down… It can be exhausting and overwhelming to keep moving around after all… We tend to get so caught up with school and work that our attention, time, and affection are poured less on family and health. We aren’t able to tell and make them feel how much we love and value them because of our other set of priorities. I think it’s important to let those that we love, especially our parents, know that they are needed and loved. Typically, a child looks forward to growing up and becoming independent from his or her parents and family — and believe me, that was my sentiment during my gap year in the Philippines and my first three years at NYU. Now, I believe somewhat the opposite of it. As ideal as it is to be independent, we should never forget to respect and love our parents the way we did as children. We should not disregard them in our decisions and actions simply because we don’t feel like we need them anymore now that we’re capable adults ourselves. Never forget where you came from or started off… Instead, if there’s a future disagreement, it is ok to argue, negotiate, and compromise. Personally, I believe that we should retain our childlike hearts and love generously. That’s one of the simplest ways to keep our parents and (older) loved ones alive and kicking for a long loooong time because our oozing love will be strong enough to keep them going with a larger purpose. That is why there are days I wish I could simultaneously finish my studies in New York and be physically present at home. Some say I might have changed a lot, and I do see and feel it, but deep down inside, I know that the core part of me remains fervently. I’ll always have that childlike heart of mine. For instance, one of the little things that makes my heart jump for joy is being in my home with my cute, fluffy dog named Andy. He’s one of the greatest blessings in my life!
There he is! I present to you… the one and only Andy!
Having two vastly different lives — one in the Philippines and the other in New York — is something I’ve embraced and am grateful for because of the immense growth I’ve undergone. Honestly, writing this out isn’t easy because I do feel shy bringing up that I still get quite homesick, but truthfully, that’s because home is a huge part of who I am. Luckily though, I have an amazing program (Education Studies) and set of friends at NYU who make leaving NY at the end of each semester equally difficult. My second home in a nutshell would be the friends that I endearingly call my gal pals (Sienna, Beena, Britney, Liz, Phuong, Jane, Shirley, Ladan, Allie, Chelsea, Amy, Kate, Cathy, and Julia) and guy pals (France, Vincent, SY, and Kevin)! These are friends who saw me from the very beginning when I was a wide-eyed freshman who feared and stumbled through first year because I’ve never been left alone in a country or, let alone, in a continent with no fam bam! I’m thankful to these friends for the patience and for welcoming me back so warmly every time I return. They understand me for who I am and let me be me — no questions asked. That’s the best part about living in New York and my friends that are based there. You do you! Whatever you feel is valid, and they understand and embrace our differences.
Finally, in preparation for my trip back to NY and my final fall semester at NYU, I made sure to learn to cook some dishes with the help of OG Manang Rosa (but let’s save that for another post!) and strengthen my faith with the guidance of Ms. Vertido. Because I’ll be living in my own apartment for the first time ever, it’ll def be a big challenge and adjustment, but I did what I could to equip myself through faith and some newly-acquired skills for my senior year. The fundamental inner attitudes that I picked up from recommended books and the Theology of the Body (TOB) lessons taught by Ms. Vertido are to practice and encourage “humility, trust, living in the present moment, love, and gratitude'“ amongst those around you. Although not easy to do and change myself overnight, I’m willing to learn how regardless of how long and how much effort it may take. Time to test out my faith and see how the rest of this year and the next will pan out! Leaving it all up to God and my own efforts! Ciao for now!
