Thahabu

My sophomore year of college ended so much better than I thought it would. Maybe it’s my anxiety, but I was worried that I failed some of my classes, when in reality I got As in them. I have a really bad problem with rushing to the worst-case scenario. This was also my last time attending the school I hate so much as a communications major. I’m looking forward to studying film and creative writing at the school’s NYC campus. It’s much more diverse and I think I’ll be way more comfortable there.

Even though the toxic atmosphere of my old campus largely contributed to my depression, there are a few things I’m going to miss about the small town where it was located. My friend, MK, introduced me to the Black Cow, a quaint coffee shop that makes chai lattes that taste like hugs. We’d meet there once a week to laugh over our drinks while discussing how ridiculous the world can be at times. MK radiates this sweet, otherworldly gentleness that would put me at ease when I was in the worst of moods. And her soft aura bleeds into her taste in local businesses. That coffee shop became a place of solace for me. Sometimes when I felt like school was getting to be too much I’d head to the Black Cow for that comforting chai latte, and admire the art on the walls until my anxiety vanished.

The best part of attending the crappiest school on the East Coast was having the privilege of meeting MK’s beautiful friends. They were all very similar to her and welcomed me with open arms. They basically gave me a tour of their rustic home, taking me to local art shows and watching local bands play in a neighbor’s basement became a staple in my weekly activities. I enjoyed hanging out with them so much that I went back to the town over the weekend for a party. I had a blast and made even more friends.

Going back made me think about how specific places leave imprints on me, and vice versa. When you stay in a city for more than a month you begin to build a relationship with it. Certain street names get etched into your brain, you remember your favorite dish at that one restaurant, and the house of the person you had a short-lived crush on. As much I hate the educational institution situated there, I appreciated the town’s energy; it made my experience at school so much more bearable. I left a piece of myself in that town, it’s a part of me just like I’ve been part of it for the past year. I’m going to miss it. ♦