New York City is the best city I have ever lived in. Not only because it offers endless career opportunities in many fields such as media (the one I am in), but as a megacity, it offers me tremendous opportunities to learn and grow as a person. Looking back to what I have learned after having been living here for more than four years, I’d love to share 5 thoughts.
1. Expand your network.
My journalism teacher once told us that it was not what we know, but who we know that matters. While both what you know and who you know matter, the point is knowing people in your industry might help you find your next job. There are many ways that you can expand your career network and make new friends, such as joining professional organizations such as Asian American Journalists Associations (AAJA) in New York chapter and signing up meetup.com. The truth is, New York City never lacks smart and talented people! You will always learn a thing or two by hanging out with people within or without your career network.
2. Focus on things that interest you the most.
New York City is never boring. It offers endless options for your entertainment, career development and the like. Sometimes, deciding which event to go to can be a little difficult. Will you attend this Hudson River cruise party on Saturday night or see your dream Broadway show or this new Meetup event that you are excited about? The bottom line is find what you are most interested in and think about what you can learn from the event. This might sound a little too practical but going to the event you are most interested about will save you a lot of energy and time for other things in your life.
3. Respect other people’s time.
It’s easy to sense the pace of a city by seeing how fast people walk. This is especially true in New York City where people value efficiency and productivity greatly because competition is fierce. That being said, always respect other people time. Try to be punctual all the time —whether you are going to meet an old friend at a bar or attending a professional meeting.
4. Broaden your interest.
New York City is a great place to explore your new interest because there are so many resources available. If you are a music lover, there are concerts in Lincoln Center held by world well-known musicians every month and free concerts at Central Park and Byrant Park every summer. If you are interested in arts, the Metropolitan Museum and MOMA can be your go-to place to get some artsy inspiration. If you are a wine lover, there are wine tasting events in the city all year around.
5. Improve your financial management skills.
I have mentioned a lot of advantages of living in New York City. The downside? It’s too expensive. However, on the bright side, you could start developing your financial management skills. For example, I wouldn’t spend more than 40 percent of my income on rent if I didn’t earn that much. When it comes to finding affordable housing, I looked at certain neighborhoods in Brooklyn, such as the Sunset Park and Bensonhurst. I paid $450 per month in my last place at Sunset Park in Brooklyn and I earned about $53,000 per year. Because my rent was cheap, I saved more than a third of my income every month. And the place I rented? It was not bad! It took me 45 minutes to work by train and I had my own bedroom!!!
