I’ve wanted to move to New York since I was 15. Being from a Mexican-American family, we celebrate 15th birthdays or quinceañeras marking the passage from girlhood to womanhood. Typically, girls wear fluffy dresses and tiaras at a huge party which I thought was dumb and terrifying as an introvert who wanted to be a wallflower at parties. I tried to convince my parents to use the money they would spend on a quinceañera to take me to New York City instead. The trip never happened, and I haven’t let my parents hear the end of it. I still tease them that they owe me a trip to New York. Since then, I’ve always dreamt of being a writer in New York.

I tried to make this dream a reality several times in my twenties applying for countless internships in college then jobs post-grad, interviewing for jobs, taking a few solo trips to see if I could live here realistically. Now at the age of 30, I made it happen for myself and have been here now for almost three months. Time is flying in the best way, and it feels surreal that I am living out this dream I’ve had for half of my life.

My friend, Jess and I recently went on a photo walk in Park Slope and she took these film photos of me, which I think capture the essence of how I’m feeling lately being here— free, lucky, and brave.

Photos by Jess Focht