It’s time to press “Play”

My conversation with my adviser after she got the withdrawal form wasn't long at all. I really respected and loved her; she showed me the world of communication and showed me my place in it. She worked for us only; she wanted us to be great professionals in what we do.

- Linda, you’re really fast in your decisions. You need to think about this opportunity more, put all of the advantages and disadvantages on a scale…

- I know it’s only May and school starts in September. I understand I have money to pay rent only. I realize that I don’t know anybody there. But I also know that’s what I want to do, that’s where I want to be, and exactly when I want to leave.

- Do what your heart tells you to do, but please remember that you can always come back.

I loved and respected her more than most of the people I met in my life. But even she couldn't stop, because nothing could stop me.

I found some place online to stay at for the price I was able to pay. It was great to understand that I’m moving to New York, Manhattan.

Packing my staff I realized I’m a shopaholic, and I need to stop… Yeah, the United States changed me a lot by involving me pretty intensively in the pure consumer society. I mean, I never really refused to do that, but 4 pairs of jeans kind of surprised and scared me a little bit.

As my flight was at 6.15 AM my friends and I decided not to go bed. We've been talking for hours discussing our plans for the future, dreams and travelling ideas. It was great… At that moment I realized that probably it’s not that safe to live in Oklahoma where tornadoes are not that big of a deal, the landscape is pretty constant and food is all pretty much fried (dear reader, I’m giving you full rights to blame me for not liking fried food). But honestly, traveling around the world and specifically in the United States, I found out that Oklahomans are probably the greatest, the nicest, the kindest people you probably ever going to meet in the entire world.

They never refused to help me but refused to take money for gas, they listened to me if I needed to be listened. Moving up north I knew that communication between people is going to be in a very different way. However, I was ready to pay this price.

Standing in the airport customs’ lane, my friends stood next to me, and id didn't feel like I was leaving. I couldn't and I’m pretty sure my friends weren't able to understand that this is THE MOMENT.

I hugged them and smiled. “Bye guys! I love you so much. Thank you for everything!”

‘Cookies or pretzels, ma’am?’

‘Umm... cookies and orange juice please’ – I mumbled waking up.

I couldn't get back to sleep on this flight again because the only thing that was filling my mind was New York which was now just 2 hours and 45 minutes away of flying.

Finally after reading some random magazines, looking at duty-free catalog  listening to on-air radio and watching kind of a random movie about some old people in elderly house with tons of drama there, I heard the flight assistant announcing that we’re close to destination and it’s time to buckle up.

‘Don’t forget to turn off your electric devices,’ – the voice repeated a few times.

But no, I wasn't going to do that as I was about to fulfill one of my mini-dreams and make a check point in my buckle list. I opened my music gallery and found the folder “Favorite.”

I could both feel and see the plane getting lower every minute. It was the perfect moment and pressed “Play.”

Looking for the first time at the New York City from the bird’s point of view and hearing the first chords of Frank Sinatra’s unofficial hymn of the city, I could see us passing above Central park, Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and other iconic details of the city.

If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere.

It’s up to you, New York, New York

Living this moment I was realizing that I will always remember it as it is my official start of brand new life.

The Decision

It was going to be an exciting night. I was getting my documents ready to have my 6 PM flight to New York City, when I found my acceptance letter in the folder with other important papers. There was nothing unique or special about this transfer acceptance letter from Baruch College for anybody else but not for me, Linda, the dreamer and the achiever.

Many sleepless nights, dreams, fears, tears, and smiles were for me in this letter. Since I decided to come to the United States to study I've always wanted to go to Baruch, but, unfortunately, being 17-year-old freshie I couldn't afford on-campus living in NYC which was required.

Now, after long 2 years in Oklahoma I was ready to move on, go to the land where all dreams come true. I applied as soon as I got eligible for it. Opening the e-mail with the admission decision the internet connection got pretty nervous too.

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These minutes were equal to hours and days of waiting for me. I see little pictures and blue lines slowly appearing on my tiny screen.

“Sorry…”

I didn't have to reads the rest.

I tried to think that my decision to transfer wasn't that good. I assured myself that things are happening the best way they can happen.

The new semester was coming. I committed myself to work 46 hours a week and took 18 hours a semester. I did everything I could to not think about this, to cut my entire free time, to reduce my communication with friends who kept asking the same question: “How is your plan with that COOL school in NYC?”

The deadline to apply for fall semester was getting closer. I unliked all pages in social networks connected to Baruch as they kept reminding me to try again. I don’t know why, but for the first time in my life I was scared. Scared to be refused AGAIN.

Two days before the deadline I met one of my friends who was one of few people who actually cared about me and understood my weird personality pretty well.

“You know, you have a chance to get out of here. Get out somewhere where you can achieve anything. And I know you can do anything, I believe that you can do anything. Apply tomorrow and don’t lose this chance.”

This application process was very different from what I did before. I did it fast, in one day. In my letter I put nothing but truth, I confessed how much I want the challenge which I didn't get in my present school in Oklahoma at all.

And then I got it, a letter, and not an e-mail, that invited me to join one of the greatest business schools in NYC.

Now, holding this letter and feeling the excitement filling my heart I was thinking about the challenge New York prepared for me.

‘Did you take your passport?’ – My best friend Emily, who became my real family in the foreign land of Oklahoma, asked. Catching my smile with a drop of embarrassment, she thankfully didn't even say a single word to our other roommates about that great time I nearly got late to my plane because I forgot my passport. ‘Ready to go?’

It surprised me how few people were at the airport. The storm was going throughout the United States, and I concluded that this was the main reason of unpopularity of flights today. Seeing that my flight is an hour late and comparing this to the fact that every other flight apparently got cancelled, I tried to see this as a good thing. Emily left, and I stayed at the dark airport alone.

After a few hours I saw the message on the board claiming “CANCELLED.”

Now my flight info line stopped being a unique green light of hope and under the pressure joined the majority.

Not worried at all, I went to the airline desk.

“Are you kidding me? In 3 hours from Tulsa?” – Emily was shouting in the phone on her way back to Will Rogers. “We’ll make it.”

Flying/driving on the wings of hope and dream we got to Tulsa right in time. I went inside being happy looking at the pretty “green” flight schedule screen.

However, in about 2 hours my flight was cancelled again.

“Coming back now,” – yawning said my friend.

I was leaving Tulsa airport after one of the worst nights in my life filled with nothing but fear, tears and anger. I looked at Oklahoma again and realized that was the exact time I was supposed to get to JFK. My brain didn't even give a choice or asked for my view on this situation. Nope, not at all, the decision was made.

The only words I told Emily on the way back: “I’m leaving Oklahoma for good next week.”