For Tisch first-year Bo Ebeling, NYU has always been the plan. As a student hailing from Los Angeles and studying recorded music at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, he felt that the city was the best place for him to grow as a musician. It also helped that his brother, Tisch senior Angus Ebeling, would be here to help him find his footing.
“I feel like other kids have a certain idea of college, and I think I am really lucky that I have a brother here,” Bo said. “I think his experiences have demystified the first day for me a little bit.”
Both first-years and seniors, despite being on opposite ends of their college journeys, face a similar mix of excitement and anxiety about what lies ahead. Whether you’re a new student eagerly making new friends in your classes or a senior who commemorated your last first day with an obligatory photo in Washington Square Park, the first day of class always marks a moment of change.
Bo aims to both grow his career as a musician at NYU while still experiencing all the quintessential college experiences. A part of him wishes he could have begun his time at NYU without the help of his older brother, coming in with a fresh slate like his classmates.
“I feel like I might make slightly smarter decisions just because I have his experience — but also maybe, that is what welcome week is,” he said. “I should be making bad decisions, because that’s what everybody does.”
While Bo’s main focus is on his music, he wants to soak up as much of his college years as he can, a sentiment echoed by Angus, who looks back at his time at NYU fondly. Not only did Angus become more independent, but he was also able to learn and grow as a filmmaker. In his senior year, he finds himself torn between two sides: putting all of his efforts into his final thesis film versus seeing more of New York City before his time at NYU comes to a close.
“I haven’t actually explored enough of New York yet,” Angus said. “I feel like I’m still kind of new and, I don’t know, sometimes the subway still stresses me out.”
If anything, first-years can take solace in the fact that some seniors still feel rushed by the innate urgency of New York City. In fact, Angus recommended using the city’s chaos as a source of motivation, rather than anxiety.
“I think there’s like a collective energy that is fun to be a part of,” he said. “It’s a bunch of young people who are trying to figure out what they want to do in a city that is so oversaturated with things and opportunities, and everyone’s just trying to pick their way through it.”
As someone coming from a small, all-girls Catholic high school in California, LS first-year Shreeya Goyal has witnessed that same oversaturation first hand. Back home, Goyal was used to a tight-knit community where everyone knew each other. In contrast, the quick pace of New York City and NYU’s open campus created culture shock.
“Here at NYU, when I walk out of my building, I can’t tell who’s a student and who’s not,” Goyal said. “That was a bit odd for me.”
Goyal hopes to use her first year to find the same kind of community she had back home, both socially and culturally. She wants to focus on cultivating deep friendships while also taking part in everything that the city offers — starting by connecting with her Indian heritage.
“I’m going to be away from home for Diwali and Garba, and I really want to find a community where I can celebrate those here at NYU or in New York,” Goyal said.
Making NYU feel like home isn’t just about connecting with New York City, but perhaps more importantly, connecting with yourself. Stern senior Kelvin Yu has found it to be one of the most rewarding parts of attending the university. Though he grew up in New York City, Yu never considered leaving.
“I think as a freshman I had a really closed-off mindset where I was like, ‘I’m never going to leave New York — everyone talks about it being one of the greatest cities, so why would I ever leave?” Yu said. “Having studied abroad and having seen the other side of the world, it showed me there’s comfort in exploring your own culture and living in a different place.”
From joining the Chinese Student Society to doing an exchange program in Beijing, Yu is grateful for the opportunity to venture out of his comfort zone.
“Making friends from all over the world has diversified my mindset and opened up my understanding of how people from outside of New York and outside the United States live and see the world,” Yu said.
Contact Noor Maahin at [email protected]