Big city dreams are a popular theme in many movies. You know how it goes—the character moves to the city and lives a glamorous life in a spacey loft. They go out to bars every night, then come home to get a short night’s rest before commuting to their job as an editor-in-chief of New York City’s biggest magazine. Well…this isn’t reality. Not even close.
But don’t run in the other direction too fast, because despite this skewed stereotype of big city living, big cities have something for everyone and are the perfect place for 20-somethings to flee right out of college.
1. It will introduce you to the real world, whether you’re ready or not.
It can be difficult to move on from college to the adult life, and in many cases, the transition is the hardest part. Throwing yourself into the chaos of a big city is just like ripping off a bandage—you may feel completely overwhelmed and out of place, but you’re just one step ahead of the game and ready to do life.
2. Opportunity awaits you at every corner.
In a place where something is always going on, the possibilities are truly endless. For 20-somethings just coming out of college, the job market is so much larger than you’ll ever find in a suburb. Not to say you have to find the job you’ll keep for the rest of your life, but you’ll at least have the chance to dip your toes in the water and gain experience.
3. It will open your eyes to what you don’t want to see, but need to.
You will find that poverty, violence, and everything else wrong with the world will be raw and right in front of you. This will help shape you into a person with a better understanding of the world. Some people don’t have homes, and some even have to beg on the streets daily just to have enough money to eat dinner. Although you might not always be able to solve their problems, your appreciation for the food in your fridge and the roof over your head (no matter how tiny) will stick with you.
4. You will learn the value of money.
Life is expensive in a big city. Sometimes, you may only have enough money to pay for your rent, but it’s all a part of the experience. Living on a cramped budget as a 20-something will help you prioritize and teach yourself money skills that will carry with you for the rest of your life.
5. You will learn to live life in the fast lane.
As exhausting as it may be, life doesn’t stop for anybody. People are always hustling—whether it be to their job or home or for a jog around the city, you will be instilled with the desire to keep up with life before it passes you by. If this wasn’t an important trait, there wouldn’t be a Starbucks on every corner.
6. You will live among diversity and learn to respect it rather than avoid it.
Big cities are truly melting pots. You will find the widest variety of ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, and political beliefs, and you will learn to live among that diversity. Every day, you will have the opportunity to expand your knowledge simply by opening your ears and listening to those around you. You will have a greater opportunity to educate yourself about everything from different backgrounds to different lifestyles. Everyone has a different story to share, including you.
7. It will show you what you want.
Perhaps you will move to a big city and discover that it’s not for you. That’s good, too! The busy life in a sleepless city is not for everyone, but once you have had the experience, you will never have to question what could have been. If you can conquer even a little bit of time in a place such as New York City, that would be considered an accomplishment.
The truth is, for 20-somethings exploring life after college, there’s no such thing as failure; everything is simply a lesson learned.
