A challenge I’ve faced in my service year is…
Moving to New York was a huge step for me; It was my very first time moving out of my home. I had attended college as a commuter, living with my parents. Hence, I was worried about where I would live and finding the right people to live with. I had seen too many movies and heard people’s experiences about roommates from hell so I was scared. I started out searching for studio apartments, but those proved too expensive. Eventually, I reached out to one of my program cohorts asking who was yet to find a place or in search of a roommate. One of them reached out to me and we began talking every day and searching for spaces, of course we got turned down several times. Then we had another girl from our cohort join us in our search and we finally secured a place. That brought about its own challenges. Until the very day I drove my U-Haul to NY, I had no place to stay and had to sleep in my truck. My two roommates and their mums called and negotiated with our landlord, stressing the fact that I was having to sleep in my truck, until we were finally able to sign the contract and move in! I believe the challenges we faced over that period of talking, searching, and not qualifying or getting turned down, helped us bond as a trio. Their support helped me stay confident and feel supported even though the housing market was so scary and our timeline was so tight. When we were finally able to move in after our ArtistYear Orientation and Training Institute, we began to make it more like a home and build it as a safe place for all of us. Helping each other install beds, fill the cabinets and stock the fridge, and help me hang art around our house like a museum dedicated to me and my artistic journey. Having roommates who are a part of my cohort is a hugely positive impact on my service year. We keep each other on schedule, join cohort video chats from our living room, and decompress together after long or challenging days at work. We share our successes and our struggles openly and respectfully, supporting one another and being honest about our own boundaries and needs. We’ve created a safe but brave home environment that I am grateful and excited to be a part of.
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