From Times Square to Snowball Fights: Brinkley-Lane Scholars experience NYC
Impact trips are an important part of the Brinkley-Lane Scholar experience. The choice between Charleston, SC, and New York City, NY, is one many of the senior scholars have thought about since their freshman year. The class of 2025 decided to head to the Big Apple to not only celebrate their final semester as undergraduate students but reflect on their time in the program.
Lauren Garcia, a fourth-year environmental health major said, “We’ve been imagining what our senior trip would be like since we were freshmen, so it was great to be able to finally live it out.”
Upon arriving on the morning of January 18th, the scholars were greeted by their tour guide Mr. Daniel Ellis. They jumped right into experiencing New York’s rich history starting at Times Square to learn about the history of the name, use of lights, and the famous ball drop. This was followed by a visit to Bryant Park where the scholars enjoyed the many vendors and food options that NYC has to offer. Grand Central Staton, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, and 5th Avenue were also stops along the way that exemplified the vibrant city.
“I loved learning more about the history of the city and meeting alumni. It was also really great to catch up with my fellow classmates and spend time together before we go our separate ways,” said Noah Sampson, a fourth-year biology and chemistry student.
Day two was filled with trips to Central Park, the Chelsea Market, and Hudson Yard. The group was able to not only see the beauty of the city but spend quality time with their cohort. The free time that day allowed for endless exploring of restaurants, museums, and famous landmarks. The scholars bonded New York-style bagels, great Italian food, and their picturesque surroundings.
“My favorite memories truly are going to be the unexpected conversations or jokes made during periods of downtime with the rest of the scholars. We all have busy schedules so it’s rare for us to be free to hang out at the same time during school,” said Garcia.
The fun only continued that night with a trip to see the Tony Award Winning Broadway show “The Outsiders”. The story was compelling, emotional, and a great way to experience a night on Broadway. Afterward, the magic continued when it began to snow as the scholars walked through Central Park and Times Square. The snowball fight that broke out is collectively a favorite memory!
“My favorite experience was walking through Central Park after it had snowed. At one point, all the scholars had a snowball fight,” said Brooke Butler, a fourth-year engineering student.
Sampson added, “The park is beautiful by itself, but having fun with my class really brought that experience to another level.”
On their final day, the scholar cohort worked to get a last few sights in before heading back home. Exploring the popular neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights, eating lunch at the DUMBO, and visiting the World Trade Center were all on the agenda. The scholars ended the day with an alumni dinner before saying goodbye to NYC and returning home.
Butler said, “My advice is to take advantage of the larger trips to experience new things and grow closer with your cohort. And don’t miss out on the other opportunities, because there are so many cool trips through the Honors program as well.”
Take advantage of all opportunities and always remember to play in the snow!