11/22/2025
*drum roll*🥁 my final post from NYC along with a story time ✨ here’s some bits n pieces of a stroll through the city on a crispy late Friday afternoon 🌇 with full flights, my return home turned into an extra free day. rightfully so, my trip had been busy but now, i was getting some solo time. walking through Hell’s Kitchen, i took in my environment. the streets bustled with the usual city chaos. horns honking from constant traffic. 🚕 bikers flicking their bells as they zoomed by. a group of 4 teens singing “Hey There Delilah” on the corner with the biggest smiles (i admired their courage in such a public space). walking through Central Park, a nice breeze & the shady trees gave relief to the heat. 🌞 conversations of chatter in various languages & children laughing as they played at the park filled the air. friends danced together in the grass while the dembow remix of “Pretty Little Baby” blared on a speaker.🔊 finding an empty spot to people watch & rest, i sat on the big rocks. i looked at the tall buildings & i thought to myself, “wow. you’re here.” 🤯 now that i had a moment to pause, it was finally & *actually* hitting me that i was there in NYC. 🗽 there i was sitting in the middle of this big city that i dreamed of visiting since a kid — and it was all because i decided to go after an opportunity without thinking twice about it. had someone told 16yr old me that my reason of making it there was for my first photography exhibition in Brooklyn, i wouldn’t have believed them. i sat there processing & thanked God. 🥹 as the sun set & i exited the park, “Empire State of Mind” played on another speaker. the perfect song 🎶 to end my solo adventure. a full circle moment & my heart will forever swell of happiness when i remember it. 🥹🥰
if you’ve gotten this far in reading, thank you for supporting my journey & dream. may this serve as a reminder to go after yours no matter what it is. push past the imposter syndrome & keep going. do what you love & love what you do 💌