By Nicole Acevedo, Assistant Editor
There’s nothing like stepping out into the Manhattan streets in the middle of autumn when the wind gets a bit chillier, fashion has transitioned from summer dresses to trenchcoats, and that “anything can happen here” mentality envelopes you.
Western New England University’s Campus Activities Board (CAB), took a group of 54 students on a trip to the Big Apple this Saturday, November 13. For only $60, students were bussed to the city, had the opportunity to see a Broadway musical performance, and have dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe.
CAB has put on New York City excursions similar to this in the past, but due to the pandemic, those once-in-a-lifetime experiences had to be put on hold.
Assistant Director for Clubs and Organizations, Claire Wright, chaperoned the trip.
“Along with running a variety of on campus programs, CAB likes to provide opportunities for students to get off campus and experience things they might not be able to afford otherwise,” said Wright.
It’s no surprise that New York City is pricey, I mean come on — it’s New York City after all. So, it’s safe to say that not too many college students would be able to drop a pretty penny on a train or plane ticket to experience all the City of Dreams has to offer. However, with the help of CAB and the Steerage Rock Fund, Western New England University students have the chance to make lasting memories.
Before I knew that I was moving across the country for college, I romanticized what it would be like to save enough money and go to New York to live out my Gossip Girl dreams (yes, I know — ridiculous, but hey, have you seen Chuck Bass?) I always imagined it would happen later in my life, when I was all grown up making lots of money as a best-selling author because there was no way that a 19 year old me would have enough wiggle room to book a trip like that. To some degree, I was wrong.
My freshman year, CAB announced that they were taking students to see Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway, and I immediately knew I had to go. As soon as the Peter Pan bus crossed into the city, my face was pressed against the window, eyes glued to corner coffee shops and glamorous women talking on the phone. I was so in awe of the people and the atmosphere, it took my breath away just like it did this weekend. Wandering aimlessly through Times Square before a matinee performance of The Lion King with one of my best friends is something I will always cherish. We hopped off the bus on 43rd and 7th, walked in the wrong direction a couple of times trying to find Bluestone Lane Café, and snapped plenty of photos in front of the jumbotrons. A much needed day in the middle of an exhausting semester.
