In Class: List of Authority

• What to do when someone gets homesick at camp
• What to do when the boys you babysit for start to fight
• Procrastinating work
• Approaching people of higher authority (parents, teachers...)
• Packing/organizing a suitcase
• Making my bed
• knowing the subway system in NYC and how to get around
• planning other peoples birthday parties
• finding the best clothes and shoe sales
• staying up late when I need to get something done

• knowing the subway system in NYC and how to get around

Growing up in New York wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be. My parents always made me be more independent with myself and less dependent on the people around me. I have always been able to figure out problems on my own. My parents both work in the city and on Fridays, I would meet each of them at their offices with my brother and sister. When I first started going to the city, I felt lost and uncomfortable, but when my parents began to make me do it to get comfortable, things started to fall into place. They eased me slowly into getting to know Manhattan by starting off getting to the Chappaqua train station, buying a ticket, getting on the right train and taking it all the way to Grand Central Station. My parents would then meet me when the train arrived. Once I got the hang of taking the train by myself, I began to learn how to get to each of their offices by paying close attention to the few times they'd walk me there from the GCS. After getting comfortable with the walk to their offices, it was time to learn how to get back. Getting back was a little bit easier than getting there because I would re-trace my steps and make mental notes of where I was--while following my parents. As walking there became easier, I found that there was a better way of transportation--the Subway System. I took my first subway to my parents' offices with them by my side the first time, and after millions of rides, I began to learn the entire NYC subway system.