‘IMG_0650’
courtesy of ‘mkuhnert’
It’s funny, because when I sat down to write this, I was reminded again that DC was definitely not the plan when I was making decisions about college, and yet, here I am. Rewind to my senior year in high school. I was set on a school in the midwest, and even though I had applied to Howard, I have to admit I was petrified of moving so far away from home. What I didn’t know then is that, five years later, I wouldn’t regret that application at all.
I promise this won’t be completely about Howard, but what I do have to mention is that attending Howard University was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and I am extremely proud that I had the opportunity to study at a school with so much history and so much culture. Ok, that’s that.
‘Navy Memorial station’
courtesy of ‘vpickering’
As with any change of environment, the initial stages of being here were very “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore”. I’m from the suburbs of Detroit, so I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t at least a little culture-shock. Later on, as I became acclimated to the people, the places, and things to do, I realized that it wasn’t so bad after all. It’s no New York City, but to me, in its own way, DC is a city that never sleeps. There is always somewhere to go, something to do, and someone to see, and it’s all metro-accessible!
So beyond Howard, I think that I might love DC for a couple more reasons in particular. First, there are the people. Whether it’s the college kids from across the country, the young professionals working on the Hill, or the “locals” as they are so lovingly referred to, the diversity you get within the city is really amazing, and you never know who you can run into on any given day… which brings me to my next point. Not only are the people diverse, but the places are as well.
‘White House 1’
courtesy of ‘afagen’
Whether it’s walking around Georgetown in the spring or making a late-night trip to the Diner, DC definitely isn’t one of those cities that’s just a movie theater and a mall. I love that you can grab sushi on H Street and be minutes away from the White House. Maybe you don’t even intend on visiting the President, but the fact that you totally have the option is what makes us so lucky to live here. That being said, it has been my pleasure to live here for the past five years, and I can’t wait to figure out what else I love about this place!
