4 Years & 10 Days later

4 years in the Big Apple was an adventure to say the least. Saw and did a lot of things, but most importantly I met some awesome people. Playing football and joining a frat introduced me to a bunch of good people and some of my best friends. My best friend Shea Selsor (not in the image above) came from a small town in Ohio (Piqua). Not going to lie, the guy was weird and awkward at first. I mean, when your town population is as the same size to the school your going too it can get overwhelming. Aside from eating salami sticks meat sticks regularly, being the messiest person ever and thinking the state of Ohio is the greatest place on earth, Shea was an awesome friend. Smart guy and awkwardly funny. Will Claunch aka Pirate aka SoFlo was another guy me and Shea hung out a lot with freshman year. The guy is all about his fishing with Gary (a 4 pound little dog), Kentucky Basketball and listening to  reggae. Claunch hated New York from day 1, and to be honest we all did to an extent. Me and Claunch always told Shea we left Paradise to come to a Concrete Jungle. Guys like Karson Bodnovich, David Chao, Mark Muston, Nick Mistretta, Bob House, Nico Papas, Ben Popeck, and Pete Holst-Grubbe were people I hung out with the most and we all really became brothers. Visiting each others home towns and living under the same roof was an awesome experience. From the Frat parties, to watching NFL games and exploring the city, these guys made bad times good and good times bad (Just ask Will about our last night on our Spring Break trip and the next morning at the airport). Over the 4 years I met incredible people outside my brothers like Donia Abdelaziz. Hailing from Egypt, me and her had an awesome dynamic relationship, which included daily debates over Rihanna and Beyonce and me telling her LA is better than New York. She is truly an awesome person and I am happy for all the success she has. Working currently at Ralph Lauren, I learned a lot from her and always appreciated the insightful conversations we had about politics, music and fashion (which must of the time she would school me on) But people like her is what made Columbia an awesome place, even though I am happy I am home.  I saw Yankee, Mets and Jets games, partied at some of the best clubs and lounges, attended concerts, ate some awesome food, and toured all 5 boroughs. I've had some bad and good times (everyone did), but the past 4 years really did measure and tested me as a person, and now I continue into the next phase of my life with the lessons I learned and the friends I made.

(L: Senior Day, R: 1st Bday in NY. I wish I can remember most of it lol) 

(L: Frat Composite, R: Pre-gaming at out house before a Sorority Formal)

(L: Pre-Game party before out Spring Concert, R: "40's on Forty" Senior Tradition)

(L: Last Frat Formal, R: Columbia College Senior Dinner)

(L: Gradaution, R: Me and Will)

(L: Me, Shea & Will decorating our X-mas tree freshman yr., R: Mother's Day 2012 in NY)

(L: Me and my mom at Yankee Stadium, R: Me & teammates modeling for GQ)

(L: Watching Wiz perform at Spring Concert 2010, R: Frat Formal tribute for Shea)

(L: All-nighter in the Architecture studio, R: front row for the Rihanna concert @ MSG)

(L: Arch class on top of the Arch Building, R: Celebrating a win!)

(L: Best formation in football, R: Watching Obama and McCain speak in 2008) 

(L: @ Yankee w/ my cousin watching Chelsea FC play, R: Frat Formal in 2009)