A New Beginning

A New Beginning

Throughout life, many things have shaped and molded me. However, college has provided me with a foundation to dig deeper and shine brighter. I took those values that are precious to me and made them greater. My growth has given me the ability to step out of my comfort zone. Coming to Washington, D.C. made me appreciate all I left behind in Chicago. Also, Chicago made me realize where I am about to go in life coming to Washington, D.C. This new chapter in my life as a college student has made me appreciate where I come from, where I am now, and where I am heading.

Before college, I never appreciated where I came from. There was so much violence in my city, for it began to be labeled as “Chiraq”. The violence made me want to move away and never come back. I lived in Chicago for my whole life which made me think there were other places way better than my city. I did not appreciate my city until I came to Washington, D.C. I would always drive past the beautiful skyline down Lake Shore Drive, and I did not know how beautiful the skyline was until I came to D.C. and saw no high-rise building shining up at night. When I look at Loren Reedy’s painting, all I see is a wonderful city in which only Chicagoans know what is so perfect about this place. Although, Chicago is going through something, we are trying to rise above the bad label we have. There was a moment where I realize that I was not about to be in Chicago my whole life. As a result of me not wanting to be in Chicago, I went to start a new beginning at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

During college, I realize that everybody had something that they loved about their city. There are the New Yorkers with their fashion, the Californians with their perfect weather, and the Atlanta students with all their cool dances. At this point in life, I knew that being from Chicago would either be an advantage or a disadvantage. We, Chicagoans, have the tallest buildings and the music everybody loved....