New York City, New York | 2021–2024
After graduating from university in 2021, I moved to Manhattan to begin my career as an Investment Banking Analyst at Guggenheim Securities. Following a brief generalist period, I joined the Financial Institutions Group as the first woman on the team. From the summer of 2021 through the spring of 2023, I dedicated the vast majority of my time to work.
Adjusting to life in New York was one of the more challenging transitions I had experienced. The city’s constant activity, humid summers, and demanding work schedule initially left me overwhelmed, with little time to explore or maintain friendships. Gradually, however, I grew more comfortable with my surroundings and began discovering the quieter corners and unique experiences that made the city special. From diverse cuisines and late-night Korean spas to meaningful relationships and unexpected moments of connection, New York slowly became a place I could call home.
In the spring of 2023, health challenges led me to take medical leave. That autumn, I chose to resign and pursue a new direction, completing a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification in preparation for teaching abroad. My final six months in the city were dedicated to recovery, personal growth, and preparing for the next chapter of my life.
In March 2024, I moved out of my Manhattan apartment and embarked on a road trip through New England with my father before eventually moving to Thailand. Although I had initially struggled to imagine myself living in New York, leaving brought an unexpected sadness. A city that once felt overwhelming had gradually become familiar, and today I remember my years there with genuine fondness.