POST-GRAD ADAPTATIONS: A DEEP DIVE ON CITIES

WRITER SAILOR WEST GRAPHIC DESIGNER KAI HUIE

As young adults, our environments are constantly changing. We are in a continuous state of movement: from our hometowns, to Ann Arbor, within Ann Arbor, then onto the next city. Those who adapt to their evolving environments and embrace inevitable change are the ones who will find peace amidst the chaos.

In the blink of an eye, college is over and we are dumped in a new place with a 10-year span of confusion consisting of the ages between 20 and 30. The cities we end up in are the setting and stage of our next chapter.

It is with that understanding that I will highlight the most popular postgraduate cities and what recent alumni have to say about adjusting to their new environments within each.

New York City.

New York is arguably the most romanticized city in the US. If you’re like me, you buy into all of it. The dreams that echo throughout the streets, the romance running through the veins of Central Park, and the best street food money can buy. Living in New York has been a childhood dream of mine. What I didn’t consider when I was 12 was the high cost of living and the subtle feeling of loneliness when you are one Cheerio in a bulk box of 8.38 million. To understand postgrad life in New York, I sat down with Sarah Addo, who moved there after graduating in April 2022.

“New York scared me when I first moved here,” Sarah laughed while explaining her time transitioning. Despite initial nerves, Sarah’s adjustment to NYC was positive.

“The more overwhelming areas are the touristy spots.” She explained that her Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood provides her a smaller, more intimate subsection. “There are so many different neighborhoods, so there is a lot of traveling too. There are times when I will spend up to 40 minutes on the subway,” she noted.

When asked about her experience with costs, her response was immediate: “It’s ridiculous.” She explained that “Depending on what you like to do on the weekends, my biggest expense has been going out.” Sarah laughed, saying that it is difficult to find a drink under $14.

Sarah feels that New York is distinct from other postgrad cities. “In New York, there is something to do whenever you want. It feels alive and active.” Even with the high cost of living and lengthy commutes, Sarah does not plan to move anytime soon.

Chicago.

A quick LinkedIn search will prove that the Michigan-toChicago pipeline is real. Chicago seems to have it all—the hustle of a big city, close proximity to Ann Arbor, and a lower cost of living than New York. To learn more about adapting to Chicago life, I sat down with recent graduate turned Chicagoan, Olivia Katz.

The manageability of the city was Olivia’s main point of attraction. “I was able to integrate into a big and dynamic city while also having it feel more manageable and cleaner than New York City.”

Olivia is pleasantly surprised with the postgrad community in Chicago, calling it a “Big 10 melting pot” with designated bars for each school on football Saturdays. She also noticed the various ways to form a community. “My roommate joined an adult symphony band here and my other roommate has engaged with the Jewish community. I am joining the Chicago social club, which is an intramural sports league all throughout the city.”

“It’s a super affordable cost of living which was something that was very important,” Olivia shared. She explained that she prioritized eating well, enjoying good entertainment, and not spending her entire paycheck on rent. “I saw a Broadway show here for $40!” she exclaimed.

Olivia greatly appreciates that she hasn’t felt “competitiveness or pressure in Chicago about where you are working or what salary you have. It is a very lowkey and down to earth environment.”

Ann Arbor.

With the increased prominence of remote jobs comes flexibility with where recent graduates decide to live, making remaining in Ann Arbor a feasible option. Environments can change even when physical locations do not. To learn more about remote working in Ann Arbor, I spoke with Emelia Ratliff, a 2022 graduate.

In just six months, Emelia’s college town became her postgrad home. She admitted that the initial transition posed some challenges. “Recognizing that I wasn’t a part of the big campus community anymore, or at least that I had a different role in it was difficult.”

Taking on postgraduate life in Ann Arbor connected her with new communities. “Since I am still in the same place, I have been trying to strengthen relationships with people who are at the same stage of life as me in Ann Arbor.” Her choice to move to a new neighborhood within Ann Arbor was important. “Changing up my setting and moving outside of student heavy areas allowed me to grow into my professional self rather than just an extension of my student self.”

Emelia has discovered a new side of Ann Arbor since graduating. Emerging from the on-campus “bubble,” she realized that Ann Arbor has way more to offer than she ever knew, citing trips to the farmers market, off campus restaurants, and local entertainment.

When asked about her driving reasons for staying, she responded, “Familiarity. Since I wasn’t able to get community from my remote job, I chose to stay because I knew I would have a support system here.” Reflecting back, Emelia is satisfied with her choice. “My mental health is very important to me and I knew having to figure out a new support system amidst the transition would have been an unnecessary burden.”

Change is the only constant, especially with regards to the environments we find ourselves in. As a young person, it is critical to dynamically adapt to our changing environments with gratitude and excitement. College life is a blessing, but the opportunity to take on a new adventure, in whatever capacity that is, is equally exciting.