As the largest city in the United States, New York City is home to more than 8 million people, which is over 4 million people more than the next largest city. It occupies over 300 square miles of territory and offers the busiest subway system in the U.S., with over 34 different lines. As many as 800 languages are spoken. Even to a native New Yorker, these numbers can feel dizzying. But even if you are from a far or less urban - even rural - area, you can still find a home among the rich, diverse neighborhoods of New York.
We asked four current Barnard students how they transitioned from quieter homes far away to life in the Big Apple. Take a look at what the first two had to say:
Rumana Kasime '17
Hometown: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
My decision to go to college was a big deal for my family because I would be the first to pursue education after high school. What was an even bigger deal was my choice to leave South Dakota to attend a women’s college in New York City. In South Dakota, people don’t walk anywhere, or take taxis, or even ride subways (mainly because they don’t exist).
New York City was another planet. I knew it would be a big change from the life I was used to and I came in with so many negative preconceived notions. New Yorkers were all mean. There were no trees in the city except for in Central Park. But when I arrived on campus, it was the complete opposite. There were beautiful trees and grass everywhere. The Barnard campus is a community of its own. Students were smiling at me when I walked by, and it was honestly the most comforting feeling I had ever experienced. I say this so often and to some it sounds like a cliché, but when I stepped on Barnard’s campus, I knew it was the place for me.
In the first couple weeks I felt homesick, but it slowly went away. That transition phase was not easy. But Barnard is so diverse, with students from all over the U.S. and other countries as well, and it’s really nice to realize that there are other students experiencing the same feelings of homesickness as you. With the support of one another, you get through it. Plus, from the small classes to the big events on campus, Barnard’s community always has an intimate, comfortable environment. There are a variety of support groups and mixer events for students to de-stress. It’s amazing to be in an environment with women who focus on building up one another instead of being competitive.
Kenzy Seifert '16
Hometown: Lebanon, Oregon
We asked four current Barnard students how they transitioned from quieter homes far away to life in the Big Apple. Take a look at what the first two had to say:
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| Rumana Kasime '17 |
Hometown: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
My decision to go to college was a big deal for my family because I would be the first to pursue education after high school. What was an even bigger deal was my choice to leave South Dakota to attend a women’s college in New York City. In South Dakota, people don’t walk anywhere, or take taxis, or even ride subways (mainly because they don’t exist).
New York City was another planet. I knew it would be a big change from the life I was used to and I came in with so many negative preconceived notions. New Yorkers were all mean. There were no trees in the city except for in Central Park. But when I arrived on campus, it was the complete opposite. There were beautiful trees and grass everywhere. The Barnard campus is a community of its own. Students were smiling at me when I walked by, and it was honestly the most comforting feeling I had ever experienced. I say this so often and to some it sounds like a cliché, but when I stepped on Barnard’s campus, I knew it was the place for me.
In the first couple weeks I felt homesick, but it slowly went away. That transition phase was not easy. But Barnard is so diverse, with students from all over the U.S. and other countries as well, and it’s really nice to realize that there are other students experiencing the same feelings of homesickness as you. With the support of one another, you get through it. Plus, from the small classes to the big events on campus, Barnard’s community always has an intimate, comfortable environment. There are a variety of support groups and mixer events for students to de-stress. It’s amazing to be in an environment with women who focus on building up one another instead of being competitive.
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| Kenzy Seifert '16 |
Hometown: Lebanon, Oregon
When I came to Barnard, it meant moving from a small Oregon town of 15,000 to a thriving metropolis of over 8 million. I expected to deal with some culture shock when I got to New York, but really, it wasn't nearly as bad as I imagined it. The first morning of student orientation was the first time I had ever seen Barnard's campus in person, and from the second I stepped through the gates with Orientation Leaders clapping and cheering my arrival, I felt at home.
When I'm at school, I do miss my family and my friends and especially my two dogs at home, but all it takes is a walk across Barnard's campus, or across the street to Columbia, or a quick subway ride to Times Square and I remember that I live in one of the most incredible places on the planet and it doesn't feel so bad to be so far from home.
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When I'm at school, I do miss my family and my friends and especially my two dogs at home, but all it takes is a walk across Barnard's campus, or across the street to Columbia, or a quick subway ride to Times Square and I remember that I live in one of the most incredible places on the planet and it doesn't feel so bad to be so far from home.
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Taking advantage of the city and all it has to offer really helped me to make the transition to school in the city. Every time I walked down Broadway, those times I got to see The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, or the time I went to the movies and saw Jake Gyllenhaal - it was all just a reminder that some people dream about visiting NYC for their entire lives, and I was getting to live here for four years. Going to Barnard is a really special experience, and I have never regretted being here for a single moment.
Stay tuned for our second installment of "Adapting to Life in NYC" to read two more student perspectives!
Stay tuned for our second installment of "Adapting to Life in NYC" to read two more student perspectives!