3 Big Lessons I Learned the Hard Way at NYU

My first year, I wanted to try it all. Every club fair left me with a list of twenty organizations I “needed” to join. I convinced myself that saying yes to everything was the best way to find my place. Living in New York, there’s also this energy that makes you feel like you should be doing everything all the time.

My days started at 9 am with class, then I’d work during the day, running between club’s meetings, grabbing food on the go, finally coming home at 10 pm. More coffee, less sleep, convincing myself I just needed better time management. But the truth was simpler and harder to accept: I was stretched too thin to do anything well. It took hitting a wall (and serious burning-out) to realize something had to change. 

That’s when I finally understood: the solution wasn’t doing more efficiently – it was actually doing less, intentionally. I decided to focus on three things: Ukrainian Student Association, Admissions Ambassadors and Stern Marketing Society. Organizations that connected to my heritage, my desire to help future students, and my career goals. With that focus came real impact, meaningful relationships, actual contributions and the energy to fully show up.

Quality over quantity isn’t just a cliché – it is survival advice. Your college experience isn’t measured by how many clubs you can list on your resume, but by the depth of your involvement and the connections you make along the way.

At first, New York felt overwhelming – 8 million people, infinite possibilities, constant noise. I’d spend twenty minutes trying to pick where to eat lunch. Then I’d just go to the same Sweetgreen again because at least I knew what to expect. The subway still confused me. I’d get off at the wrong stop and still walk ten blocks in the wrong direction. Everything felt like too much.

What helped wasn’t some big “Conquered New York” moment. Tiny, boring routines made the difference. I found one coffee place near campus that made cold brew exactly how I liked it, and I went there every morning. Same order, same time, same barista who eventually started making my drink when she saw me walk in. Having the same spot in Bobst to study helped, because having one consistent spot made the massive library feel less intimidating. Weekend mornings, I’d walk through Washington Square Park with my headphones in, just letting my brain reset.

These little routines became my thing – small pockets of predictability in a city that never stops moving. Now when I walk around campus, I’m not anxiously navigating anymore. I know which subway entrance is less crowded, which study spots stay quiet after 8 pm, where to find decent food at midnight when I’m pulling an all-nighter. The chaos didn’t disappear. New York is still loud and crowded and sometimes feels like too much. But these small habits made it manageable. The city didn’t get smaller, I just found my corner of it.

This one took me the longest to learn. I’d always prided myself on being independent and figuring things out alone. That mindset worked in high school, but at NYU, it held me back. I’d struggle through coursework alone rather than go to office hours, worried that asking for help meant I wasn’t capable enough.

The turning point came during a rough week freshman year when I was drowning in coursework and exhaustion. A friend called me out: “You know there are people who literally exist to help you, right?” It clicked.

When I finally reached out – to professors during office hours, to my advisor about feeling overwhelmed, to friends during tough weeks – I discovered they genuinely wanted to help. My relationships grew stronger, not weaker.

I realized asking for help isn’t admitting defeat; it’s being smart enough to know you don’t have to do everything alone.

Now, as an Admissions Ambassador, this is one of the first things I tell prospective students: the strongest people aren’t the ones who never ask for help – they’re the ones who know when they need it and aren’t afraid to reach out. NYU offers countless resources designed to help students succeed, from the Academic Resource Center to Wellness Exchange Program. Using them isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom.

These lessons didn’t come easily, and honestly, I’m still learning them. But they’ve shaped my NYU experience from something overwhelming into something I’m genuinely grateful for. If you’re reading this as a prospective student or a fellow current student struggling – know that the hard parts are universal, and you’re not alone in figuring it out. The city, the school, the experience – it’s all designed to push you outside your comfort zone. But that’s exactly where growth happens.