Now that I've been living in the city for about three months, I can honestly say there is nowhere else I would rather live. Not only are the academics good at schools like Duquesne, Pitt, Carnegie Mellon and more, there are tons of exciting things to do in the city. From being dropped into the middle of the city and given the opportunity to freely roam wherever I wanted to go, I've realized how many small, amazing places are hidden throughout the city. The first thing I realized were how many different restaurants and coffee shops are around the city. Of course, I haven't been able to try a lot of them due to the lack of money I have to deal with as an unemployed college student, but there are still many restaurants within walking distance that I have found to be some of my new favorite places to eat.
The next thing I realized, was how many scenic views you can find by simply walking around. The perfect view from Duquesne's campus inspired me to go adventuring one night, and almost everywhere I went there was a new beautiful view. Every couple of blocks I walked I found a new perspective of the city I had never seen before.
Your mood changes instantly when you drive into the city. I suddenly feel empowered and important the second I see the tall buildings and busy streets. It's almost like I find my purpose and goals when I'm there. Although sometimes it might seem like you're just one person in a huge city, each person leaves their mark as they move around.
Of course living in the city can be dangerous. However, there's almost no threat if you're smart about the decisions you make. As much as I like to be on my own, once it starts to get dark its a whole different story. The city can be as perfect as you make it as long as you use your head. Stay in the areas you know are safe (and if you don't know its pretty easy to figure out). Throughout my life, I have lived in four different houses, and I have never felt more attached to a place after only living here for three months.
