Living and Interning in New York in Your 20s

Before moving to New York, I imagined everything would feel exciting and put-together. In reality, it was a mix of growth, pressure, and figuring things out in real time—but that’s exactly what made it valuable.

It’s honestly not what I expected

Before moving to New York, I pictured it being super glamorous. Cute outfits, coffee runs, walking to work, all of that. Some of it is real, but most of it is just figuring things out as you go.

Living in New York in your 20s forces you to grow up quickly. You are balancing work, trying to have a social life, and learning how to manage everything in a city that never really slows down. It is exciting, but it is also a big adjustment.

Work feels more real here

One of the biggest things I noticed during my internship was how seriously people take their jobs. Even as an intern, I was not just doing small or random tasks. I was contributing to real projects and expected to keep up.

That pushed me to be more aware of how I present myself and the quality of my work. Everything moves quickly, and there is a certain level of accountability that makes the experience feel much more real than anything in a classroom.

It teaches you independence fast

I think my biggest takeaway was not even just about work, but about learning how to manage everything on my own. Time, money, energy, all of it.

There were definitely moments where it felt overwhelming, but that is also what made the experience so impactful. You start to trust yourself more and become more confident in your ability to handle challenges as they come up.

What I took away from the experience

Interning in New York gave me a clearer understanding of what working in a fast-paced environment looks like. It showed me how important it is to be adaptable, proactive, and intentional in everything you do.

More than anything, it helped me grow both personally and professionally. It was not always easy, but it pushed me in ways that I would not have experienced otherwise, and that is what made it worth it.