The Number 2
I have always been superstitious. I am an avid believer in the phrase “everything happens for a reason.” Some of my weird yet relatable myths include knocking on wood to ensure I do not jinx something, stepping on an airplane with my right foot first, or stopping in the middle of the street to pick up a heads-up penny.
I believe that numbers are a signal that should not go unnoticed. Good things may come in 3’s, but two is better than one. The number “2” has paved the way for my life decisions. I have two loving sisters, two compassionate parents, and two sets of grandparents that I seek advice from. I attended a sleep-away camp for eight years and went to the same school for 14 years, which is a multiple of 2.
When the daunting senior year college decision approached me, I was down to 2 potential options: the University of Wisconsin-Madison or New York University. While I weighed the pros and the cons for hours on end, May 1st came quicker than anticipated. Given that the decision would determine my next four years, job, friends, and experiences, I was more nervous than ever. I was a New Yorker at heart, but I decided to try escaping the city for a 4-year getaway– I chose the University of Wisconsin.
Two years of tailgates, negative temperature days, and treks up Bascom Hill left me unsatisfied. “Did I make the wrong decision?” I constantly thought to myself. I was surrounded by friends who loved Madison, but it was not the lifestyle for me. I found myself continually questioning if I could improve my next two years somewhere else, potentially NYU. When the COVID-19 pandemic sent everyone home in March of 2020, I leaned towards drafting a transfer application. At the time, my friends were learning Tik Tok trends while I was requesting letters of recommendation to submit to other Universities.
Upon gaining acceptance to NYU’s Steinhardt School of Education, I faced a tough decision, similar to senior year: NYU or Wisconsin? I weighed the pros and the cons, once again, with more experience and maturity under my belt. I would be constantly haunted by the idea that if I left, I would think of myself as a failure– that I could not make it through four years of college. After much help from family, I gravitated towards attending NYU. I have learned so much about myself as a person from this pivotal point in my life.
First, leaving somewhere does not count as a failure; it is only a fresh start. Second, going to NYU has opened my eyes to new experiences and friends, which I will carry forever.
Second, just because it was not the four years I predicted, it does not mean I ever made the wrong choice. On the contrary, both Universities have helped me grow in different ways, academically and socially.
Third, the worst part about leaving somewhere is making the decision. Once you are out, you’re out. It takes a lot of courage to admit that you are unhappy, and I realized how many people feel the same once I told them I was leaving.
And fourth, because all things have to follow my “multiple of 2” rule, what’s wrong with splitting my college experience at two universities? I transferred after two years for myself. I can finally dig out the girl who had been buried after a tough two years of not admitting unhappiness.
By Rachel Feinblatt, NYU ‘22