Carlie Schwaeber ’12
Web News Editor

“Now you’re in New York, these streets will make you feel brand new, big lights will inspire you, let’s hear it for New York.”
– Jay-Z

As a teenager, I am going through a crazy phase where I always want to be somewhere exciting.  I am a very fortunate high schooler to be living in this amazing town, but I feel restricted and I don’t think I am alone when I say that New York is much more exhilarating.

For instance, in New York, or any city for that matter, you could do the Cha Cha slide in the middle of sidewalk and nobody will care.  That is not to say you won’t get a couple of stares, but what does it matter?  Everyone is busy trying to catch a train, pick up their child from preschool, or go to work.  They have seen too many people dressed in Star Trek costumes to be surprised anymore, and at this point, it is almost normal.

It is not that I don’t think people can act themselves in Westport, we are just more hesitant in wearing anything out of the ordinary, because we are bound to see someone we know. Still, people act unique or wear original clothing in Westport, but I don’t think they go all out like they would if they were in NYC.

Yet, I can’t help but wonder if there is an underlying thought within Westport kids that New York is judge-free.  Of course, there are other reasons why people go to New York, but my intuition tells me that teenagers love it because it is someplace where they can be free and independent.  We are old enough to travel alone, and in teenage talk that means “Peace Wepo, off to NYC!”.

While visiting New York City over winter break, I realized how fortunate I am to have a city so close to home.  Westport is a great place, but between trying to maintain good grades in school and having a social life, it almost feels liberating to get away from it all once. It feels emancipating to go to a city where nobody cares what your English grade is and who you hang out with.

I wonder if the day will come when someone will just break out and do the Cha Cha slide in the middle of Main Street, and nobody will stop and stare.