A Day As A Wallflower in the City
I have always considered myself to be a wallflower, someone whose introverted nature has made me gravitate towards being on the sidelines throughout most of my childhood and teenage years. Due to this, when I was considering DePaul for my school of choice a few years ago, a big question loomed over my head during the decision process: Am I capable of surviving city life in Chicago?
Take Yourself Out on a Date!
It’s a common misconception that one must be tough, outgoing, and social to thrive in the concrete jungle, but it wasn’t too long after moving to Chicago for school when I realized that, even as an introvert, there were so many ways in which I could challenge myself outside of my comfort zone, but also tend to my love for self-dates and independence.
If I were to plan out my dream day as a wallflower wishing to explore and savour the city, I would start my day with a walk around Lincoln Park. Lately, I have found so much happiness and peace in my walks around the DePaul Lincoln Park campus and neighborhood. It’s hard not to romanticize living here when each street is beautifully lined with gorgeous townhouses, trees, flower displays, lively restaurants, and quaint shops. At the end of each walk, I’m able to come back with new knowledge of a local park to have a picnic in, a cute store to explore one day, a bench to journal on, and more.
Exploring Local Neighborhoods
My next mission would be to indulge in one of my beloved hobbies, reading! Located in Wicker Park is a stunning Barnes & Noble. The building was built as a bank, but now its ornate interior offers a nice sight-seeing opportunity for book lovers. While I am in the area, I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to window shop at the incredible collection of vintage shops in the Wicker Park neighbourhood. My love for thrifting and vintage-clothes shopping is always satisfied walking into 2nd STREET, Village Discount, Round Two, and other clothing shops nearby. A sweet treat is another necessary stop and I can assure you that Chicago has so much to offer anyone with a sweet tooth. My latest cravings have been cookies from Chip City, a cute cookie shop that offers a yummy flavor lineup every week.
I have only scratched the surface of some of my favorite spots for self-dates throughout Chicago. Overall, this city has allowed me to grow in the most incredible ways in all aspects of my life, but despite all of the change I’ve experienced, my inner wallflower still exists and shows face from time to time. Rather than seeing it as a hindrance to my city life, I’ve become comfortable in acknowledging that there are so many spaces and communities all over Chicago where I can still thrive and nurture my introverted-tendencies. College is a special period of our lives where we are given the greatest opportunity of meeting new people and making meaningful connections, but amongst the excitement of seeing new faces, I encourage anyone to take yourself out on a date around the city to explore, wander, and make your time at DePaul and Chicago your own.
And for those questioning whether they would fit in the stereotypical city-goer lifestyle, I hope I have helped in showing how accommodating and accepting this place can be for anyone. The city can be yours as long as you make it yours.
