By VIVIENNE SCHARF
Despite the mere 20-mile difference, growing up in NYC compared to Long Island can feel like two entirely different worlds. The vibrance of Manhattan and the laid-back culture of Long Island shape the way teens approach their sense of self. Whether it’s taking the crowded subway to SoHo or asking your parents for a ride to the nearest mall, the way kids grow up and gain freedom is deeply influenced by the environment around them.
Harsh Realities vs. Personal Safety
Suburban life is safer than urban life. Violent crime rates in Nassau county are much lower than those of Manhattan. According to the U.S. News and world report, Nassau County is one of the safest in the country, while New York City has a violent crime rate of 363.8 cases per 100,000.
NYC 15-year-old teen Mollie L. has grown up learning to navigate NYC’s potential threats. She said, “I’ve been taking the subway alone since seventh or eighth grade. So, with that I’ve become a lot more cautious and observant especially in public settings. I’m not trying to get killed or get jumped or get pushed into the tracks.”
Mollie L. is a dedicated volleyball player who loves learning and trying all sorts of recipes. When she is not in school, you can find her wandering the streets of NYC with an airpod blasting Stevie Nicks.
Despite this Mollie was still a victim of a crime as a middle schooler. “In seventh grade, I was pickpocketed. A guy stole my phone,” she said.
Fortunately, the Jericho students interviewed have not had such experiences. This doesn’t mean they are not aware of these realities. JHS sophomore Jasmine D. said, “I don’t see a bunch of harsh things that I know many others do in cities. Suburbs here are really safe, so I don’t really see the bad in the world, but I do believe it exists.”
Varsity softball player, aspiring nephrologist and music enthusiast Jasmine D. is a Jericho High School sophomore who spends her time researching, hanging out with her friends, and shopping online.
JHS sophomore Alyssa T. feels similarly. She said, “I do feel like my life is pretty cushioned because I don’t experience on a daily basis crimes or bad things.”
Bedazzle extraordinaire Alyssa T. is a 15-year-old who lives in Jericho, New York. When she’s not working with hundreds of sparkling beads, you can find her coloring, listening to PARTYNEXTDOOR and always with a strawberry acai in hand.
Individuality vs. Conformity
Alyssa T. feels a pressure to blend in with her suburban peers. Even when she might want to wear makeup a certain way or behave differently, she chooses not to because of the fear of negative judgment. She said, “I think that people that I surround myself with and just people that are around me, make me feel the need to blend in to feel socially accepted. There are amazing people here, but I feel like it’s not a place where I could fully express myself without feeling like they’re going to see me differently or think I’m weird.”
In the suburbs this pressure to conform often takes precedence over individual self-expression. In the city, on the other hand, individuality is promoted. NYC public school sophomore Mollie L. said, “I think people have a lot more individuality in the city because there are so many people. In Long Island, there are a lot of people, but whenever I go there, people are all the same, but in the city, there’s millions of people. A big thing about living there is that you don’t want to be basic. You want people to want to know your personality from just looking at you. You wanna be known for something. Otherwise, you just blend in the background.”
Independence vs. Connection
For some Manhattan teens, the accessibility of city life fosters a sense of freedom and self-sufficiency from an early age. New York City youth are expected to navigate their environment independently and move confidently through the city that never sleeps.
NYC teenagers have almost everything they need in walking distance, and this encourages a sense of independence. Manhattan resident and high school sophomore Natalia R. said, “When you need something here, you could just go get it. I’ve never asked someone for a ride or even asked my mom to take me on the subway.”
Natalia R. is a 15-year-old sophomore from the Chelsea neighborhood of NYC. She’s an aspiring D1 volleyball player, enjoys biking around the city with her friends and loves spending time with her family and dog Roxy.
Mollie L. has had similar experiences. She said, “I’ve also just been a lot more independent, which helps me in scenarios, especially if I’m doing things my own. I notice that I don’t seem to rely on other people. I can just do it myself.”
However in the suburbs teens are forced to rely on family and friends for rides due to lack of public transportation. Alyssa T. said, “Everywhere I go, I need a car. It’s not a walkable distance. Everywhere around me is highways and big roads, and especially by my house I don’t even have a sidewalk. So I would need to uber or find a ride by someone. I can’t really walk anywhere.”
This reliance on their parents for transportation makes suburban youth more dependent. JHS sophomore Jasmine D. said, “We have a car taking us everywhere, so our mom and dad are driving us.”
While there are positives and negatives to growing up in both places. Clearly, these young teenagers reveal that one is not better than the other. They are simply just different.
Be the first to comment