From bright lights and city skylines to a quaint park in the center of town and a shoreline only a 20-minute bus ride from the center of the city, New York, New York, has it all. Recently, I went there for the New York Times Summer Academy. The program itself was incredible, but what made the trip unforgettable was the city.

I have never been anywhere with so much life. There were people everywhere going places and doing things, and each one of them was so unique. When I first arrived in the city at JFK airport, I couldn’t help but experience a feeling of sonder.  

Though some people say all New York is is crowded and noisy, I beg to differ. As I began to adjust to New York and find my bearings, I realized the noise wasn’t just miscellaneous sounds at all. It is New York’s love letter to its residents: a song, playing on repeat every day. It is a song of chatter and construction. The sound of heels on the sidewalk as people move quickly from place to place. From the hum of the subway station below the city streets, to the buzz of the tangible energy coursing through everyone who steps foot in New York, the sounds of the city blend together to create a melody of sorts….  It felt like there was a string connecting everyone. Bonding us, the people your string is attached to may not always be friendly, but the connection is still there. A common goal and a common thought. New York is the city where people make it, and everyone there just wants to succeed or find themselves. The truth is, the city that never sleeps is filled with dreamers. 

Of course, all the iconic landmarks like the Empire State Building never cease to make your heart skip a beat from their unmistakable beauty. However, going to New York, I found that it’s the quirky and undiscovered spots that make New York, New York.  

For example, a little pub in Hell’s Kitchen or a run-down, sketchy pizza place in Brooklyn will surprisingly make the best pizza you have ever tasted. The food in New York City can range from Michelin-star restaurants to ones that only get an ‘OK’ on the health and safety rating. But no matter where you go, you are guaranteed a unique experience. 

In addition to food, views, and news, New York is known for its museums –which I can say from personal experience– never cease to amaze. I went to a few during my New York trip, and each time I went to one, I saw art in a way I had never seen before. With a playful Muppet video maker in the Jim Henson exhibit at ‘The Museum of Moving Images’, I learned about a childhood movie favorite and simultaneously celebrated the amazing Jim Henson by creating a playful Muppet video of my own.  

The MET, in contrast, feels like you are not simply in a museum but instead walking through time. One of the more conventional museums, the MET has an incredibly well-curated collection. It’s a well-known fact that in the MET, you might get lost in thought while staring at the most incredible pieces of art you have ever seen. The MET is often canvassed for its incredible art, but I would like to take a moment and praise the building’s architecture. It isn’t anything too spectacular, but the sheer scale of the building makes it seem worth mentioning.  I loved getting lost in the expansive and maze-like museum. 

The true New York experience, or at least the one that made me feel most like a local, was walking through Central Park on a scalding summer day and racking up more than 25,000 steps. Central Park still has New York’s fast pace, but time slows down when you enter that park gateway. That day, I was drastically unprepared for the weather; I ended up stopping at a lemonade booth and two free water stands. It became a quest for water, and somehow, a mundane day became an adventure. I eventually learned that this is in fact the New York way.