1

Matthew Hackel

1/28/16

Prof. Fielding

WRTC 103

section 41
New Yorkers
A New Yorker is plain and simple; someone from New York. However,
there is so much more to being a New Yorker than just that. Coming from a
town only 20 minutes from the city, I have experienced so much of what this
city has to offer. New Yorkers (specifically those from the city) are known for
a lot of things. NYC is a place like no other when it comes to food. We have
the best pizza, bagels, bread, delis, Chinese food and so much more that
make coming to the city exciting.
Not everything said about New York is positive though and there are
some stereotypes, such as being reckless and aggressive drivers. Despite
there being bad stereotypes, I think it doesnt matter because the good and
the bad balance out making the city a very interesting place to live. New York
City has changed my life and made me the way I am, by having so many
different cultures all come together in one place and be able to learn about
them all in such a short time.
The history of Manhattan Island is one that kids remember from their
history books. They remember that Manhattan Island was bought from a
Native American tribe, in 1624, for $24 worth of goods. However, that isnt
all there is to it. The Dutch who purchased the island named in New

Amsterdam, after their capital city. The town built was originally used as a
trade center for fur pelts and other goods. This town became more and more
well-known because of its strategic location. In 1664 the town was renamed
New York, after the Duke of York (Later James II of England). The Dutch had
given up control of the island in exchange for the Spice Islands which are in
modern Indonesia. Throughout time, New York City has always been an
economic powerhouse of a city and provided goods and services all over the
country. From fur pelts, to ice making, all the way up to Wall Street and
Madison ave; the city has been great for the American economy. Even
without the economic power of the city, it would still be a fantastic place.
There are so many forms of entertainment in the city that catch the eye of
anyone walking by. There isTime Square, Rockefeller Center, Broadway, tons
and tons of museums, and so much more that give people who visit the city
an unforgettable experience.
New Yorkers dont have many beliefs, but if they were to believe in
something, I think it would be that once youre a New Yorker or live in New
York, that part of you never leaves despite where you go in life. The city has
such a magical feeling about it that can leave a lasting impact on anybody.
Just seeing the outline of the skyscrapers while driving towards the city
sparks a feeling that livens up your spirit.
Requirements for being a New Yorker is to have lived in the Lower
Hudson Valley; become a food connoisseur when it comes to pizza and just
enjoy the perks of living near one of the most urban areas in the world. There

arent any ritual or practices that New Yorkers do, but there are stereotypes
that could be seen as practices. Being very aggressive when driving is a wellknown stereotype and is often true in most city drivers. The reason for this
however is that NYC is one of the busiest places in the world and people
want to get where theyre going fast, so in order to do that most drivers
(especially taxi drivers) drive a little overaggressive.
I call myself a New Yorker for fairly obvious reasons. I was born and
raised there, I love the city and Im just proud of being from there. I dont
have any specific role, than just being a New Yorker like everyone else, but I
feel like I have an obligation to defend New York if it ever comes up in a
conversation. My expectations as a New Yorker does not include much, but
some things such as letting people know that New York has the best bread
cant go unheard. Another expectation is just arguing with people about how
New York is the best place in the world, and also trying to convince people to
visit NYC at least once in their life.
One of my greatest experiences with the city is going in every year
around Christmas time and seeing the giant tree in Rockefeller Center. As a
kid this was a magical experience because of all the lights around you and all
the people there to see this huge tree. This is a special tradition I try to do
with my friends or family at least once every year and it never gets old. As a
kid this showed me how much the city can change and that there are an
unimaginable amount of activities to do in the city year round.

Another experience was when me and my friends went longboarding in

the city. We started off at Central Park, but then we met other skaters there
who took us to a really cool spot in Harlem. Then on the way home we got
lost on the subway and ended up in Time Square. This experience was
awesome and helped me understand how large the city is and how easy it is
to get lost even though Ive gone to the city countless times before.
Finally, the third experience Ive had with the city was skipping school
one day and going into the city with my friends. We went to the MOMA
(Museum of Modern Art) and just explored the city for the rest of the day,
going into different stores and different restaurants. This experience showed
me just how much fun the city can be especially when with friends.
Being a New Yorker means so much to me because it is who I am and it
is my culture as a person. Living close to the city changes how you think
about other cities in the world. I have been to many cities, both east and
west coast, but none of them have the same feeling of excitement and
mystery as NYC. The city has so many things to offer and you never know
what you might find. Its a place that I call home.

Work Cited
"New York City." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Britannica Academic.
Encyclopdia Britannica Inc., 2016. Web. 31 Jan. 2016.
<http://academic.eb.com/EBchecked/topic/412352/New-York-City>.