Some might tell you that going to school is the most important part of going to college. These people are wrong, and should immediately be directed to the appropriate mental health resources for their delusions disguised as views. As for the rest of us well-adjusted folk, finding out how to spend our time away from the dreck and toil of education is the most vital part of the ride.

Sure, academics are relevant when you need to show off for employment and societal acceptance. But the most vital, evolutionary part of college is the personal development which underlies our work. These years often mark the first time we get to go out on our own. We learn what we need to do not only to survive, but to manage our lives in the long term. We learn what’s important to us, and try to guess what kind of person we might need to become in pursuit of that ultimate goal. 

I met some of the most incredible people of my life, witnessed historic moments in real time, produced work I was proud of and above all, wasted countless hours strolling up Fifth Avenue á la Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man 3. And I didn’t do any of it in class.

As many of my graduating classmates would agree, I now see my major and its relation to the rest of the world in a much greater sense than when I first came to NYU. I realize the scale we’re operating on, how our industries interconnect with others, how our respective missions can succeed and fail and why it’s important if they do. While the rote learning of our required classes lights the first spark for this growth, it’s our individual spirits and unique environments that fully allow us to reach our full potential. 

When you bypass the shadow work, the evolution of your character and beliefs suffers. The values that we bring into our work will shape the legacy we leave on the world. When we focus on nothing but the work and how to do it best, our professions lose all meaning but the material comfort and status they offer. We lose sight of the bigger picture, the web of interconnected life stories which spans the world and thousands of years of time. Living in New York City, seeing the throngs of people going about their respective millions of lives, we’re reminded every day that we’re not alone.

At the end of the day, maybe I should’ve spread myself a bit thinner experiencing the city. But I think that makes it pretty clear I’m just feeling a type of longing and love for my time in this incredible place.