New York City Post-Grad Advice With Elsa Flike by MOLLY HARRIGAN
New York City: The end-all-be-all post-college destination for so many of us. The city that never sleeps and holds endless possibilities for all of us who want to make it somewhere someday. It seems unfathomable, unattainable, and nothing less than a dream. BUT it’s not just another impossible narrative we craft for our future selves, pining over the idea of big-girl jobs and morning bagel walks. So we talked to Elsa Flike, 24 year-old graduate from the Pratt Institute living in Brooklyn, who’s managed to make all of our dreams her reality. She’s shared some advice to help us get there.
Job Hunting:
Jobs. The most important aspect to New York City living and the driving factor for most of our anxieties when confronting big-city living. We wanted to know what it’s like going into the world’s most bustling city on the hunt for a career that can keep us afloat and combat the perils the city has on our wallets. What is your take on city side hustles while in pursuit of your dream job? Would you consider the positions which you currently have as your dream job or more of a temporary means to stay afloat? “I’ve pretty much always had a side hustle, and I know lots of others who do too. As an artist and designer, it’s been a great source of income for me on the side of my day job, but also allowed me to create things I normally couldn’t in a corporate environment. That’s not to say that I don’t take on “boring” projects to pay the bills, but freelance allows me to cherry pick and over time only do projects that I feel are worthwhile. Before freelancing, I worked retail jobs on the side. Working a service job in New York is a great way to learn to appreciate the people that really keep the city running, and it gives you a better understanding of the grind.” 18 UGIRL
graphics by SAMANTHA FUSS
probably spent a couple months living in Murray Hill) recommending average, expensive, and popular restaurants. If your phone eats first, take those reccos; otherwise, don’t believe the hype. There are unassuming momand-pop restaurants that have been here for decades that are amazing, you just need to seek them out.”
Socializing: Feeding Ourselves:
We’re suckers for $10 coffees and overpriced breakfasts. NYC is the city that caters to our every brunch and cocktail hour needs, but it comes with a hefty price tag. From boujee grocery stores to glittering bodegas, the food world in the city is paralyzing and we want to try it all, immerse ourselves into the diverse options NYC so enticingly displays to us without breaking the bank. How do we curb our cravings and occasionally indulge at the same time? We asked, they answered. How have you learned to balance the overwhelming NYC “foodie scene” and pricier urban grocery shopping with a budget in mind? Where do your indulgences lead and how can we navigate that balance? “Keeping to a rigid budget in NYC, for me, is very difficult. Instead, I like to set a semi-flexible number of times per month I’ll treat myself to eat out at restaurants. Events come up, spontaneous dates, working late, new places open, plans change — all these moving parts make it hard for me to keep to a specific number. It stresses me out. That doesn’t mean I go and spend $200 on a meal when I do go out, it just makes life more flexible and fun. I would also say to take word-of-mouth recommendations from friends/ acquaintances over anything you read or see on social media. I’ve seen a lot of “foodie” TikTok girls (who have
Leaving our highschool friends was hard. But without the given promise of meeting new friends as we anticipated coming to college, leaving our college friends sounds paralyzing. We’re thrown out into the real world with little direction and no one by our sides. The thought of finding a new crew in the midst of thousands is frankly terrifying. The city is huge. And Scary. And Overwhelming. How did you find your group and your groove and how would you inspire others to do the same? “1. Introduce yourself to strangers — at a bar, on the subway, in the park, anywhere. Some of my closest friends have no connection to one another, they’re people I’ve met out in public at random. This city is one of the friendliest I’ve been in. 2. Join clubs and organizations — there are a million different organizations or clubs to join that already have like minded people in it. There are endless fun things to do where people already share similar interests. 3. Friend of a friend — a friend of mine started a dinner club called “friend of a friend” where everyone brings a plus one that most other people don’t know, and you take turns hosting the dinners. Getting to know people over dinner and seeing intimately how people live is a good way to experience the city, especially when you’re trying to expand your friend group.”
