“The distant soul can shake the distant friend’s soul and make the longing felt, over untold miles.”        – John Masefield

I live on one side of a long, broken bridge. On this end, also known as my actual hometown, I stand peering across the bridge trying to find a way to unite with the place that I call home, Buenos Aires. This beautiful city is where my entire extended family resides; where all my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents get together to celebrate special occasions, Christmas, New Years, birthdays; where my relatives spend evenings together playing cards, talking, laughing, eating, and watching soccer, all without me. My entire life I’ve been longing for some kind of unity with the people I love dearly overseas; jealous of all those around me who can enjoy this simple, yet precious luxury. Despite this, I’m grateful to have these people be a part of my life and I cherish the brief opportunities that I have to be with them, fully aware that there are others out there who are much less fortunate.

Unlocked Cage

As the years passed, I feel more and more like I live in a cage and I realized people around me feel the same way, too. This cage is called “harmony.” People change due to harmony. They have to blend into society, causing them to lose themselves. I have started to want things people expect me to want, and not what I want.

The keys to the cage are in my hands, yet, I cannot leave because I have to first figure out where I want to go after I escape.

When harmony becomes confinement,

When lies become true,

When life feels vacant,

We had lost the dreams we meant to pursue.

The more we struggle to break out of this cage,

The more wounded we became,

Then we finally broke off and we are free,

Just to end up in another cage we did not see.

The child population in my neighborhood has exponentially increased over the last couple of years. Every morning I am woken up by children’s screams, cries and outrageous laughter. I get annoyed when they interrupt my sleep. But, then I realize I was probably just like them when I was younger. I think childhood was the happiest time of my life. As a child, I got away with mostly everything and school was actually fun. Everyday was spent running around the neighborhood, plucking flowers from people’s garden and playing hopscotch. Life was so carefree without any huge responsibilities. Unfortunately, in the end, everyone has to grow up. At least it’s nice to know we will always have the memories to look back on.

As the cycle of life continues, in ten years, hopefully I’d have left by then and the group of kids will be in my position, complaining about the next batch to come.

This is the middle school I went to, and the park that was under reconstruction finished recently, I think about a year ago. I often get nostalgic when passing by the school, but at the same time, the new park chains me in the present. I played in the old park, bought food in the nearby area, and hung out with my friends near the school during lunchtime. I miss my younger days.

I recently got this laptop; I’m happy to have gotten it. We live in the technological era, and I’m enjoying it. I like this era because the internet is vast and full of opportunities and entertainment. I surf the web, watch videos on the computer screen, and message people through social networks, all thanks to the internet. In the future, I may become busier and have less leisure time to go on the internet or be with friends or other things.

I currently go to Baruch College. I’ll be here for the next 4 years, my short term future. I expect the years to pass quickly, so I hope to have a lot of fun these years. After all, these years won’t come back. I live in a complicated and fast paced world.

And no matter how many times I tell myself this, I seem to not understand because I procrastinate so much. Time is precious.

Where do I live?I live in the connections I make throughout my life. When I recall my home, I do not solely see four walls and a roof, I see the links and bonds I made there. I can smell the breakfast my mom is cooking on Saturday mornings. I can hear my dog barking whenever a stranger is passing by the house. I can feel my heart pounding as I sprint for a touchdown playing football with my friends.

Growing up in Staten Island, I formed connections that will last me a lifetime. I became closer to my family and they have helped me grow especially my sister Simran and my dog Lucky. My sister has helped me grow from the immature teen who  I once was into the (slightly) less immature college student I am today while my dog has taught me to be responsible and caring. Finally, my friends are the biggest connections that form where I live. Throughout my life, my friends have been there for me, whether to shoot around a basketball or to pick me up when I fall. They have taught me to be more open and accepting to new ideas, encouraging me to embrace the college experience. Because of them I know that I can make even greater bonds in college while still keeping the ones that I have held dearly for so long. Though where I live may change over the years, I am certain that I will always reside in the connections that I form and the friends that I make. Technically, I live in Staten Island but where do I really reside? I reside in the connections I make throughout life.