Social media and its impact on depression and anxiety

The topic in question is social media in depression and anxiety. The issue of social media and how it affects depression and anxiety have been in debate for a long time. Some studies say it is a way for adolescents to interact with people from different parts of the world. Other studies have a different perspective. Other studies have claimed that social media plays a factor in mental health, specifically depression and anxiety, in regards of adolescents.

In a Barry, Briggs, Sidoti, (2019) study: Adolescent and Parent Reports of Aggression and Victimization on Social Media: Associations with Psychosocial Adjustment, this study investigated the relations of adolescent and parent reports of adolescents’ aggression and victimization on social media and psychosocial adjustment. There was a survey taken and consisted of 428 participants — parents and adolescents combined. The study extended its research by examining both mental health and self-perception correlates of aggression and victimization on social media in adolescents and by incorporating parent reports of aggression, victimization, and etc. Results showed that 36 of the 48 adolescents have reported directly aggressing against others on social media reported also having been directly victimized. Adolescent-reported direct and indirect victimization were related to anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as lower self esteem. Furthermore, adolescents have reported having FOMO (Fear of missing out) within their social media life and their life in regards to friendships and etc. In table 4 of correlations of aggression and victimization with indicators of psychosocial functioning and self-perception, adolescents have reported .25 in the FOMO category of aggression, .29 of victimization, .27 of indirect aggression, and .31 pf indirect victimization. This all means that social media aggression was correlated with anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as loneliness. Lastly, FOMO was related to adolescent-reported direct and indirect aggression and victimization.

As well as shown in a study conducted by Dew, Escobar-Viera, Primack, Sidani, Shensa, (2018) titled Social Media Use and Depression and Anxiety Symptoms: A Cluster Analysis, it was sought to identify distinct patterns of social media use and to assess associations between those patterns and depression and anxiety symptoms. This study was conducted using an online survey of a nationally-represented sample of US adults ages 19 to 32. There were also 5 variables used in this study (time, frequency, multiple platform use, problematic social media use, and social media intensity) to identify distinct patterns of SMU (Social media use). In regards to time, participants were asked to report (in hours and minutes) how much time per day they spent on social media. In regards to frequency, participants were asked to indicate how often they visited each popular social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Snapchat, and etc. Moving forward, the variables are explained in detail and their significance in this study. Of the 1796 individuals who participated and completed the survey, the final sample consisted of 1730 individuals with complete data on the 5 variables of some level of SMU. In conclusion, SMU pattern characterization of a large population suggests 2 patterns are associated with the risk of depression and anxiety symptoms.

There is always a possibility social media can trigger depression and anxiety in an individual. For example, the overuse of social media can lead to limited in person interactions and more online conversations. Adolescents who grew up with social media are more obsessed and will most likely become introverts while those who grew up without it know how to live without it are extroverted.

The subject in discussion is whether social media impacts a person’s anxiety and depression. (TRIGGER WARNING) As an adolescent in today’s generation of social media, I could vouch for both sides of the argument. I have had a taste of depression and anxiety due to social media, also the good side. It all started when I was 10 and I would get cyber bullied on Facebook. From then on, up until the age of 13 I would get cyber bullied on Instagram as well. It got up to the point of self harm. However, everything changed after middle school, I made a new account deactivated Facebook, and changed myself completely. Social media, more like Instagram, became my safe haven. I would post my photography photos of sunsets, I started using it for comedic purposes like TikTok. This is why I feel so strongly about the topic because I can relate to both sides. In a Woods and Scott study about adolescents and their sleep schedule, self-esteem, depression, and anxiety is affected by social media. Study shows that ​it is possible that interpersonal feedback and social comparisons via social media will have a stronger effect on self-esteem levels of adolescents who feel a strong emotional connection to social media sites. Further into this research, they explore that greater overall social media use will be associated with poorer sleep quality and higher levels of anxiety and depression. They used a method of handing out questionnaires to 467 scottish secondary school students ages between 11-17 either online or in paper form. Results have shown that higher depression levels were associated with increased overall social media use, ​r​ = .11, ​p​ < .01, nighttime-specific social media use, ​r​ = .21, p​ < .001, and emotional investment in social media ​r​ = .24, ​p​ < .01. To sum it up, It was specified that anxiety, depression and self-esteem were most strongly associated with emotional investment in social media.

It can be said that social media is a way to help one with entrepreneurship and it is used to boost someone’s confidence. In a study conducted by Huang, and Zhang, (2020), it can be hypothesized that social media plays a key factor in entrepreneurship and self efficacy. The participants were recruited from three Chinese public universities and were handed 572 paper-based questionnaires to undergraduate students, who took part in the study voluntarily; only 91.6% of those results were valid. In conclusion, their results indicated students were more likely to start a business when they used social media to gather business information and form relationships with others, and that having a high level of self-efficacy increased the strength of this relationship. Additionally, educators could endorse social media tools and encourage students to incorporate these into their entrepreneurial activities. Furthermore, social media has made a useful effect on adolescents.

Social media has made a positive impact on a student’s creativity and it relieves stress and it is a way of meditation. In a Sun, X. (2020) study about Social media use and student creativity: The mediating role of student engagement, there were two hypotheses present. One hypothesis stated Social media use will be positively related to student creativity and the second hypothesis stated engagement. Participants were undergraduate students from three Chinese public universities and were handed 685 paper-based questionnaires to students. Based on hypothesis one, social media use was positively related to student creativity, β = .37, 95% confidence interval (CI) [.23, .51]. Continually, the relationships between social media use and student engagement, β = .44, 95% CI [.28, .61], and between student engagement and student creativity, β = .27, 95% CI [.13, .41], were both important. Supporting hypothesis two, results of a bootstrapping analysis of 5,000 replications with bias-corrected 95% CI show that the indirect effect of social media use on student creativity through student engagement was significant, effect size = .12, 95% CI [.07, .22]. Therefore, supporting the notion that social media has made a positive impact on a student’s creativity and it relieves stress and it is a way of meditation.

In closing, yes social media can be used to increase one’s creativity and entrepreneurship, however, it greatly affects one’s mental health negatively. Think about it like this, someone can have their good days and their bad days, it all depends on how strong that person really is and how they take it. Everyone is entitled to their own feelings or opinions and at the end of the day depression and anxiety can take a big toll on someone’s life. At the end of it all, suicide is one main factor one has to take in considering cyber bullying could lead up to it. For example, in a Ma, Zhang, Harris, Chen, and Xu, study about live broadcasts of Chinese emerging adult suicides and crisis response behaviors, the results found live presentations of suicidal behaviors offered unique opportunities to respond to suicidal crises, and also to learn more about the relationships between suicidal people and potential help sources. Moreover, it could have been prevented, however, people don’t know how to address it so increasing knowledge and skills for crisis response and suicide prevention is needed.

Bibliography

Christopher, B. T., Sidoti, C. L., & Briggs, S. M. (2020). Adolescent and Parent Reports of Aggression and Victimization on Social Media: Associations with Psychosocial Adjustment. ​Academic Search Complete,​ ​28(​ 8), 2286-2296. 10.1007/s10826-019-01445-1

Hoge, E., Bickham, D., & Cantor, J. (2017). Digital Media, Anxiety, and Depression in Children. SUPPLEMENT ARTICLE​, ​140​(Supplement 2), S76-S80. 10.1542/peds.2016-1758G

Mackson, S. B., Brochu, P. M., & Schneider, B. A. (2019). Instagram: Friend or foe? The application’s association with psychological well-being. ​Research Article,​ ​21(​ 10), 2160-2182. 10.1177/1461444819840021

Muzaffar, N., Brito, E. B., Fogel, J., Fagan, D., Kumar, K., & Verma, R. (2018). The Association of Adolescent Facebook Behaviours with Symptoms of Social Anxiety, Generalized Anxiety, and Depression. ​J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry,​ ​27(​ 4), 252–260.

Shensa, A., Sidan, J. E., Dew, M. A., Escobar-Viera, C. G., & Primack, B. A. (2018). Social Media Use and Depression and Anxiety Symptoms: A Cluster Analysis. ​Author manuscript​, ​42​(2), 116–128. 10.5993/AJHB.42.2.11

Sun, X. (2020). Social media use and student creativity: The mediating role of student engagement. Citation metadata. ​Article​, ​48​(10). 10.2224/sbp.9356

Woods, H. C., & Scott, H. (2016). #Sleepyteens: Social media use in adolescence is associated with poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. 10.1016/j.adolescence.2016.05.008

From the beginning, I was not very much of a good writer. I mean sure, I could be one if I really had the drive for it. Coming into this class I expected it to be about psychology and reading however, this class has taught me more than what I needed to know about writing. At first, I did not think these readings would help me. By the time I got to chapter three of They Say I Say, it gave me another perspective to writing. It made me think about strategies to use and it helped me expand my ways of writing. For example, it gave me sentence starters and more ways of going against an argument. It gave me a chance to say what I wanted to say but in many different ways. From now on, I will use more of these examples in my writing and it has been so useful and helpful to me. I learned a lot from this class. I learned more about myself as a writer, like my creative thinking and how I can put it all together to discuss a topic. The text about writing as well as you can made me see things from a different light. Not everyone can have your thoughts and you are not everyone, you are you, so make your writing style yours. That made me want to add more purpose to my writing, more style, because at the end of the day it is me writing about the topic not anybody else. 

Brito, B. E., Fagan D., Fogel J., Kumar, K., Muzaffar, N., Verma, R. (2018). The Association of Adolescent Facebook Behaviours with Symptoms of Social Anxiety, Generalized Anxiety, and Depression.

Introduction

In a Brito, B. E., Fagan D., Fogel J., Kumar, K., Muzaffar, N., Verma, R. (2018) study, socialmedia is one factor that influences adolescents and Facebook is one of them. 13-17-year oldscommonly use social media and this study shows how that affects them. Benefits from using social media include early learning, exposure to new ideas and knowledge, and increased opportunities for social contact and support. However, the risks of using social media is negative health effectson sleep, attention, anxiety, and depression. Increased adolescent social anxiety is associated withincreased Facebook use. Some studies show no association, a study from Jelenchick, Eickhoff, and Moreno (2012), Davila et al (2012), and Blachnio et al (2015); while others show increased depressive symptoms associated with increased Facebook use and time spent on social media.They study the association of symptoms of social anxiety, generalized anxiety, and depression and their association with Facebook. They hypothesize that symptoms of social anxiety, generalizedanxiety, and depression would each be positively associated with both Facebook use and repetitiveFacebook use.

Method

102 adolescents were surveyed at a suburban safety-net hospital in East Meadow, New York.Participants included 38 early adolescents (ages between 12 and 14), 59 middle adolescents (agesbetween 15 and 17), and five late adolescents (ages between 18 and 20). The surveys were obtainedfrom pediatric settings such as emergency rooms, inpatient, outpatient and psychiatry settings suchas outpatient.

Variables

Variables including demographics, anxiety, depression, distress, and outcome variables come intoplay. Demographic variables were age (in years), sex (male/female), race/ethnicity (Caucasian,South Asian, African American, and Hispanic), and whether participants were born in the UnitedStates (no/yes). Another demographic variable was a Facebook account and was it active or not.Social anxiety was measured by The Leibowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescentsand it contained 24 items: 12 items assess social interaction/relationship situations and 12 itemsassess performance situations. Generalized anxiety was measured with the 10 items from the anxious arousal sub scale of the Mini Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire (Mini-MASQ). Depressive symptoms were measured with the eight items from the anhedonic depression subscaleof the Mini-MASQ. Like depressive symptoms, distress was also measured with the eight itemsfrom the general distress subscale of the Mini-MASQ. Additionally, there were two outcomevariables. The Facebook Behavior scale measured common Facebook behaviors that are donewhen people log onto Facebook. The Facebook Behavior scale measured 16 Facebook Behaviorsthat were rated on a Likert-type scale ranging from 1 = never to 5 = always being done whenlogging onto Facebook.

Statistical Analysis

Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to describe the continuous variables with a normal distribution. The skewed distribution was described using median andinterquartile range. Frequency and percentage were used to describe the categorical variables. IBMSPSS Statistics Version 24 (IBM, 2016) was used for all analyses.

Results

The increased total number of Facebook friends, increased time spent per day on Facebook, andincreased anxious arousal symptoms were each crucially associated with increased Facebookbehavior and increased repetitive Facebook behavior. Moreover, social anxiety symptoms,depressive symptoms, and general distress were each not associated with Facebook behavior andrepetitive Facebook behavior. In conclusion, increased adolescent generalized anxiety symptoms were associated with increased Facebook behavior and repetitive Facebook behavior.

​Have you ever wondered if social media affects your mental health? Have you ever thought about how it affects others? Did you ever stop and think about how bad social media is? Some of you might agree with what I am saying but others might hate me for what I am about to say. Social media usage affects anxiety and depression.

When it comes to the topic of social media in association with depression and anxiety, most of us will readily agree that social media use can correlate with mental health issues. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of is social media really a problem? Whereas some are convinced that social media is one of the best things to happen and it positively affects lives, others maintain that social media can ruin lives. Social media usage affects anxiety and depression. ​In a Hoge E., Bickham D., and Cantor J., 2017 study of Digital Media, Anxiety, and Depression in Children study, it is stated adolescents who would rather interact with others online are more vulnerable. For example,”​ If adolescents preferentially seek online experiences over in-person ones, social anxiety symptoms could worsen in vulnerable individuals. Furthermore, researchers have found that individuals reporting symptoms consistent with social anxiety disorder endorsed a growing “reliance upon the Internet as a social outlet to the exclusion of face-to-face interactions”. In other words, ​adolescents prefer online interactions rather than in person interactions and that can lead up to an increase of social anxiety disorder. Personally, in my experiences, yes social media can become a way of communication, however too much of it can cause someone to be dependent on it and that is when you get attached to something or someone that really is not there.

Another topic in discussion is cyberbullying. Cyberbullying can be negatively correlated with social media. In the same study,​ “​A recent meta-analysis of 131 studies highlighted the following key findings: (1) most estimates of the prevalence of cyberbullying among adolescents fall between 11% and 48%, depending on the definition of cyberbullying, group demographics, and the reporting time frame; (2) there is a substantial degree of overlap between adolescents who bully others offline and those who engage in cyberbullying (similarly, victims of cyberbullying are often victimized offline); and (3) adolescents who experience cyberbullying are at increased risk for a wide range of mental and physical health problems. The majority of victims report negative feelings, such as embarrassment, worry, fear, depression, or loneliness after cyberbullying events.​”​ Simply put,​ ​a recent meta-analysis of 131 studies highlighted three key findings and one of them stated adolescents who experience cyberbullying are at increased risk for a wide range of physical and mental health problems. Additionally, the majority of victims report having negative feelings like, embarrassment, fear, worry, depression, or loneliness after cyberbullying events. ​My whole life I have heard all about cyberbullying and how emotionally scarred it can leave a person. It is hard for people who depend on social media and then for them to be bullied in the one place they feel at peace in is hard and painful. Cyberbullying can take a toll on a person and it can ultimately lead to suicide or other related issues.

There is a point made that social media can actually help adolescents with their depression and social anxiety. ​Study states “ ​Similarly, not all types of electronic media use would be expected to worsen depression. Because increases in momentary positive affect may lower some people’s risk for depression, certain types of media use that have this effect could be therapeutic. Media use that provides effective distraction, humor, connection to peers, and a wide social network could serve to help adolescents avoid depression and potentially reduce its impact on their functioning. Although emerging research seems to point to communication technology as contributing to depression through social comparison and other means, not enough work has been completed examining if and how depressed young people turn to this type of contact to help cope with negative affect.” To put it this way, ​not all types of electronic media use would be expected to worsen depression. Moreover, media can have a positive effect and lower some people’s risk for depression and this effect could be therapeutic. Media use that provides effective distraction, humor, connection to peers, and a wide social network could serve to help adolescents avoid depression and potentially reduce its impact on their functioning. As well, social media can give relief, provide individuals with laughter, and can reduce the risk of depression. In a Dew, A., M., Escobar-Viera., G., C., Primack, A., B., Sidani, E., J., Shensa, A. (2018) Social Media Use and Depression and Anxiety Symptoms: A Cluster Analysis several studies have found no association between increased daily time spent on Facebook and depression. There is also evidence that being emotionally connected to social media use is not associated with depression and anxiety and in some cases, may provide social capital, and increased life satisfaction. Moreover, “Three clusters—Unplugged, Concentrated Dabblers, and Diffuse Dabblers—were not associated with depression or anxiety. This finding supports the notion that moderate media consumption may not be associated with mental health risks for some individuals. It may be that for individuals in these clusters, social media are simply tools for maintaining and building relationships, rather than replacing in-person relationships. Additionally, these individuals may be benefitting from self-expression and identity development via social media, which supports a more youth-normative perspective of SMU​”. Simply, there are three clusters involved in this portion of the study; unplugged, concentrated dabblers, and diffuse dabblers. These clusters were not associated with depression or anxiety. The finding supports the notion the overuse of media is not associated with mental health risks for some individuals. Instead, social media is a way of communicating and maintaining and building relationships and friendships rather than replacing in-person relationships. Individuals are benefiting from self-expression and identity development through social media. To refute this claim, I personally believe it all depends on certain people and how they deal with their trauma. In comparison, just like the first article, this study states “Research suggests that increased social media consumption may lead to negative online experiences, fewer in-person social interactions, and decreased ability to sustain attention”. This suggests that social media consumption could lead to negative online experiences, less in person interactions, and decreased ability to pay attention. This is terrible but think about the bright side of things. , Furthermore, “there is conflicting research on the association between SMU and depression and anxiety. For example, several studies have found no association between increased daily time spent on Facebook and depression”. In short, there was no correlation between social media, like Facebook, and depression. Therefore, SMU has no affect or little affect on depression and anxiety.

Even though there is little to no evidence about social media and depression, that does not mean it stays unlikely to happen. Referring back to the Hoge E., Bickham D., and Cantor J., 2017 study of Digital Media, Anxiety, and Depression in Children study in one instance, “​how one feels about or experiences social media may be a more salient indicator of the effect of social media on an individual than simply the quantity of consumption or exposure to social media. For example, several studies found that users may develop addictive or problematic levels of SMU, which have been associated with increased anxiety and depression.​ ​These associations may be attributable to the increased likelihood of individuals who experience depression and anxiety also developing addictive behaviors.” It is all about the person and how they feel about the matter, everyone is different. People can be addicted to social media and that can lead to depression and anxiety. It is also said that “negative consequences of problematic SMU, such as neglecting one’s “real-life” responsibilities and relationships, may lead to depression and anxiety. Similarly, individuals who feel more emotionally connected to social media may be more susceptible to negative social interactions and feedback, and subsequently, at higher risk for depression”. An individual can be so caught up in their social media reality that they become consumed by it. Hence, why social media can negatively impact someone’s life.

Conclusively, study shows that social media does have a negative correlation with depression and anxiety. To make matters personal, I go for both sides of the argument. I only say that due to experiencing both the positive and negative aspects of social media use. Unfortunately, I was cyberbullied and that made me go into depression and it was the start of my anxiety. Every time I logged onto Facebook, I would get messages, hateful messages, I was only 10 at the time too. However, when I took some time off I got better. Now I use social media for comedic purposes or to keep in contact with my family and friends. All in all, I still believe it is all about the purpose. (so what and who cares) ​Now I know what you are thinking, “why should I care about any of this”. Let me tell you why, studies like this can be a way of questioning your everyday routine and wonder if it is benefitting your mental and physical health or is it hurting you.

Works Cited

Bickham, D., Cantor, J., Hoge, E. (2017). Digital media, anxiety, and depression in children. Pediatrics 140 (Supplement 2), S76-S80.

https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/140/Supplement_2/S76

Dew, A., M., Escobar-Viera., G., C., Primack, A., B., Sidani, E., J., Shensa, A. (2018) Social Media Use and Depression and Anxiety Symptoms: A Cluster Analysis. 42(2):116-128.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5904786/

New York City. The place I have been calling home for the past 18 years. I have a love and hate relationship with my city. I feel like from the outside, people have one notion about it but from the inside it’s a whole different ball game. In Joan Didion’s essay, she wrote “I would stay in New York, I told him, just six months, and I could see the Brooklyn Bridge from my window. As it turned out the bride was the Triborough, and I stayed eight years” (227). Now, I have been living in New York my entire life and not one day goes by where I think of moving away. She explains how she wanted to stay in New York for six months but instead it turned out to be eight years. A lot of people could relate to that one simple quote. Anyone can, even if you lived here your whole life or you just moved here. New York has a lot to offer and there are things that I have not seen before. The more involved you get with New York, the more you see, and the more you’d want to stay here. I live on 163rd (Washington Heights) and the New York Presbyterian Hospitals have lots of branches; They have the Psych Institute, the Children’s Hospital, etc and etc. Recently, I went to the Psych Institute to look for volunteer work and I have encountered something I have never seen before. It was a seating area, not just your normal chairs and benches; it was huge white blocks with an array of pretty flowers painted on them. There were tables spread all throughout the street and seating areas next to these tall beautiful glass buildings. Along with gardens filled with beautiful bright green plants. Man it was just amazing, I was amazed. Now I know what you’re thinking, “you lived there your entire life and you never seen that side before?” but if you lived the way I lived, you would discover things across the street you never even knew about. That made me stop and think about the wonders of New York and what have I not seen. It made me change my mind about leaving New York and it gave me a different perspective on life. Now I too, just like Joan Didion will stay more than I anticipated.

There was a time in my life where I dreaded New York and would have loved to get away from everything and everyone. It was summer of 2018 and my parents started to give me more freedom. My freedom wasn’t freedom but for me it was freedom. If that doesn’t make sense then you never had strict parents. Summer of 2018 consisted of me going to downtown 42nd street almost every weekend, going to concerts, meeting celebrities I liked and etc. Meeting celebrities and going to concerts meant escaping my bubble that is Washington Heights and going to new places like 14th street, the east side of town and places only the rich middle class people have been to. I thought I was living the life. That was when I thought my chapter with New York was over and I wanted to explore new towns and new places. However, my life in New York was not over just yet. The summer of 2019 was the same as summer 2018; Concerts, meeting celebrities and etc. Only difference was, my destinations were places I have been to but never really explored. It was July 23 2019, and it was a PRETTYMUCH concert, a boy band you probably never heard of, and they were performing at the Hammerstein Ballroom at Manhattan Center. The day was probably one of the best days of my life. The music was amazing, the choreography was amazing, the scene of everything was breathtaking. I love the feeling of the music being so loud you can feel the bass in your chest, that’s my favorite part of every concert I go to. But one thing that sticks with me is the people. Some people come from different states just to see these people perform. I have met people from Chicago, San Francisco, Pennsylvania, and etc. It amazes me that they come all the way to New York just to see a concert. I always ask them what’s their favorite part of New York and most of their answers were 42nd street. If you are or are not living in New York the one question you’re probably wondering is “what is so good about 42nd street?”.

In Megan Daum’s essay, My Misspent Youth, she writes “I’m always amazed that massive, ornate residences like 838 West End Avenue, with its yellow façade and black hieroglyphics, or 310 Riverside Drive, with its gargoyles and cornices(1)” and to me shes amazed by the architecture and the little details of the buildings she has seen. This relates to how people and myself view 42nd street. To those who have lived here longer than I have probably think of 42nd street as nothing special. To me it’s all about the glory of it all. I am amazed at the difference of 42nd street from 6pm to 3am. At 6pm it’s crowded and you can’t really see how bright the lights illuminate the street since the sun is still out. At 3am it’s like a ghost town but the lights act like the sun. Every store in closed and there is barely anybody outside. The only things visible are the huge billboards that have the newest ads, the bright signs of stores, the buildings and the different shapes of the buildings. Things like that amaze me. How some of the signs blink and other signs have missing letters that have broken lights, the way the signs are positioned; whether it’s horizontal or vertical. It’s always the little things and I think Megan Daum expresses that in that paragraph and it’s why she has such an attachment to New York. She has taught me to enjoy it while I can which is why I have the love and hate relationship with New York.

Now that you know why I love New York, lets talk about why I hate New York City and what makes me want to leave. Joan Didion’s essay and Megan Daum’s essay both bring out the good memories of New York. I have had some pretty bad experiences here as well. Now it’s not anything horrible like someone robbing me or anything, even though that has happened; it’s all about the scenery and the memories. Living in New York is all fun if you have money. Now for the poor middle class and lower class it’s all about hustle and getting work done. I know people who enjoy New York but also people who can’t even afford to pay rent here but they still manage to live here in the city. For the poor people, New York is all about work, taxes and bills. Where’s the fun in that? Unemployment rates are increasing due to this pandemic, how will people pay their bills now? See that’s the thing, New York is so overpopulated, in my opinion, that once something tragic like this happens, the more people working the more people get fired or are forced to be unemployed. I feel like more people have more opportunities living elsewhere.

I know I’m probably contradicting myself but I’ve come to the conclusion that New York to me is a whole world of opportunities that has yet been discovered. I have never been outside of the city so one can never know what opportunities are out there. I never realized that until the summer of 2019. A lot can happen in just a year or two. It’s important for me to write my experience because it made me realize that I have a whole life ahead of me and it’s up to me whether I want New York in or out of it. Writing this essay made me think about the good of New York and how I still don’t know the city let alone the entire state. Writing down all my experiences was a reminder that everything has a deeper level and everything can be looked at in many different ways. I have been to 34th street numerous times and on July 23rd that was my first time ever visiting the Hammerstein Ballroom and it was an experience I would never forget. Exploring the east side trying to meet celebrities was an eye opener because I have met people from the West Coast, seen graffiti art work on walls I have never seen before, and new streets I have never been to before. I have been to tons of museums I never knew existed. New York has taught me that life is what you make it and never hold back. It has taught me that life is all about experiences and it is what you learn from those experiences, good or bad, that makes life worth it.

My name is Miriam Mendez, age 18, and I am the second/third kid in my family to graduate high school and move onto college. I grew up in a big family household, four kids (including myself) and two adults. My parents never went to college nor finished high school in their youth. My sister, Michelle, was the first one to go and to graduate college so seeing that accomplishment as a kid made me want to be just as successful as her. My parents always pushed me to do what they could not. That is one part of my reason to go to college, to make my parents proud. Another reason is because I want to be successful. Yes I know I can be successful without college, however, there are more benefits if I have a bachelor’s degree or higher. I am currently studying Psychology in hopes to become a psychiatrist. I would like to be a psychiatrist for all ages and I like to help people since I once used to be in their shoes. It makes me feel good knowing I can help people no matter what. After my 4 years of college, I would like to go to med school and pursue my career from there. Honestly speaking, god forbid this does not work out, I want to be happy with whatever I am doing if it means I can be successful and most importantly happy. 

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