By+Maria+Fischer+++++李玉华

Growing up， I was obsessed with the idea of living in a big city.

Although I was well into my teens before I finally ventured1） to any major metropolises2）， binge-watching3） Gossip Girl was enough to convince me at a young age that the busy streets and fast-paced urban lifestyle was the life for me. Determined to live amongst the bright lights of the city， I spent the majority of my high school career counting down the days until I could leave my Ohio town behind for good4）.

By the time college application season finally rolled around5）， I was more than ready. I had prepared a thoughtful， detailed list of my dream schools and unsurprisingly， city-based campuses were at the very top.

I sent in my applications one by one， keeping my sights set on liberal arts universities in extremely urban settings. I didn't want to attend just any school in any city； I wanted to be in the absolute center of action. If my future campus wasn't surrounded by skyscrapers6） and culture， it wasn't the "true" big city college experience I was looking for.

When my first acceptance later came in the mail， I was very excited. One look at the college's colorful "Welcome to New York！" packet7） and I was sold8）. I wholeheartedly believed I held the ticket to my big city dream right in my hands.

After boarding a plane and moving into my residence hall9）， it didn't take me much time to realize that attending school in NYC was nowhere close to the "typical" college experience. Dorms10） were skyscrapers and academic buildings were high rises11）. Central Park was right down the block. From the eclectic12） art scenes to New York Fashion Week， the diversity and creativity of the city opened my eyes to many different， interesting people and places.

I loved being a college girl in the city.

That is， until I caught up with my friends back home. Seeing Facebook pictures of tailgates13）， hearing about exciting campus experiences and getting the dirt14） on that crazy house party15） all sent me into a place of doubt. Although Manhattan is an amazing place， my college experience just felt like it was missing something.

I knew deep down that I only had a few short years to get the quintessential16） college experience. After a serious mental debate， I decided my future in NYC would have to wait. As the start of sophomore year approached， I sent in my transfer application to Ohio University.

Uprooting17） myself from the city was difficult. Not only was I walking away from what I once considered my dream， I also had to tearfully say goodbye to the friends and classmates I had gotten to know and love. Telling the roommate that had become my very best friend was the most difficult part of the transfer process.

"I'm not leaving because of anything you did or didn't do！ I have to do this for me，" I explained， fearful she wouldn't understand the reasoning behind my transfer.

But there was no turning back. I sold my Metrocard18） and headed back to Ohio.

Even though I grew up in the same state， there's no denying that my first few days at my new school was a culture shock of its own. My university is located in the heart of Appalachia， one of the poorest sections of the country. With just a little more than 20，000 residents in the entire county， my college town is located in an area that is the polar19） opposite of NYC.

But ask any student who attends a school in "the middle of nowhere" and you'll quickly find that the college town vibe20） is magical. Things are cheap， student sections are loud and campus pride is everywhere.

Leaving the city also meant leaving city prices. Instead of shelling out21） a quarter of a million dollars for my private NYC-based education， I'm now paying in-state tuition.

I am in a town that feels like home and studying what I love. For the first time， I can honestly say I feel satisfied.

Though I love the city and cannot wait to start my working life there after graduation， I'm grateful that I am able to have the traditional college experience. My heart still belongs in Manhattan and I seek out internships in NYC every chance I get， but finishing my undergraduate studies outside of the city was the best decision I ever made—financially， academically and emotionally.

从小到大，我曾一心向往着在大城市里生活。

虽然在我最终大胆地踏入重要的大都市之前我都十好几岁了，但追电视剧《绯闻女孩》的经历足以让我从很小就相信，繁忙的街道和快节奏的都市生活方式才是我想要的生活。我一心想要生活在都市明亮的灯光之中，于是中学生活的大部分时光就都在倒数日子中度过，直到我能永远离开俄亥俄州的那个小镇。

等到大学申请季终于到来时，我已经做好了充分的准备。经过深思熟虑，我准备了一个详细的梦想学校清单，毫无疑问，那些位于城市的学校都在我的清单最前列。

我逐一提交了申请函，把目标定位在都市氛围浓厚的文科大学上。我不想随便去一座城市，随便上一所大学；我想身处活动的绝对中心。如果我未来的大学校园不是置身高楼大厦之中，没有文化气息，那它就不是我一直在寻觅的“真正的”都市大学体验。

后来，当第一封录取通知书邮寄过来时，我非常兴奋。一看到学校信封上鲜艳的几个大字“纽约欢迎你！”，我就喜欢上了它。我由衷地相信，去往梦想大都市的通行证就在我的手中。

登上飞机，住进学生宿舍楼之后没过多久，我便意识到，在纽约上大学与那种“典型的”大学体验相差甚远。宿舍楼是摩天大楼，教学楼也是高层建筑。中央公园就在下一个街区。从折中主义艺术景观到纽约时装周，这个城市的多样性和创造性开阔了我的视野，让我看到了许多不同而有趣的人和地方。……