“Even though New York is expensive and far, it’s part of the reason that I chose it. Living in Boston when I was younger and moving back to Florida, I miss the city. It’s far from where I have spent a big portion of my life and it’s an opportunity to start fresh. Especially considering that I want to go into film, there’s more opportunities compared to Florida. In the past few years, film has become a big part of my life. I’ve spent hours every day watching different films all ranging from as far back as 1920’s to modern day. When I watch films, I always admire the cinematography aspect of it such as the colors, scenes, and the moods. I watch film analysis videos and even write my own for personal enjoyment. I realized I wanted to be behind the camera creating those scenes and being apart of the film in some way. Throughout my childhood here, I’ve felt confined. Being ‘controlled’ by my parents and simultaneously living in a small area with not many places to go, it’s made me crave being independent. Even though moving from New York will be difficult, I’m dedicated to moving for my own benefit. Being able to be my own person, walking where I want to go, figuring things out alone, are all things New York will be able to give me,” senior Anamaria Rivera said.