Huskies Take Manhattan: My Experience on Co-op in NYC

My younger self never would have believed that I would be living in New York City and working a full time job at 19 years old.

Last fall, I accepted an offer at a marketing agency as a production co-op, and in January, I said goodbye to Boston and moved to Manhattan. I was equally excited and nervous to start working. I didn’t know anyone in the city, and I was the only co-op at my company. Working a full time job for six months and not taking classes was a new experience for me and far outside of my comfort zone. I wasn’t sure how the semester would play out, but I can say with confidence now that those six months were some of the best of my life.

The office I was working in was a very unique place. The walls were painted pink, my coworkers brought their dogs in, and there were props from shows and events decorating every corner. During my time there, I had the chance to help with the launch of several marketing campaigns for shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender and Disney+’s Doctor Who. I worked with influencers, I helped plan events, I pitched ideas for social pages — every day was different and exciting, and everyone in the office was incredibly supportive and kind. I felt like I was really part of the team, not just an intern.

Bowling outing with my coworkers!

Outside of work hours, I walked around the city, tried new restaurants, and explored museums. There were so many Northeastern students co-oping in New York that it felt like a little Northeastern bubble - a campus away from campus. In the beginning of the semester, Northeastern held an event at a restaurant and invited all the students that were co-oping there. It’s amazing how the incentive of free food brings students together. I met so many people there, and I maintained some of those friendships throughout my time in the city.

Picnic with Northeastern friends on Pier 45!

During the semester, I formed strong bonds with some of the other New York co-ops. I got coffee and went thrifting with Grace, I made it a tradition to try a different restaurant with Maggie every week, I would go on spontaneous trips to Chinatown with Aidan and Henry, and I would explore museums and go shopping with Erin. There were co-op coordinators there that helped plan events like dinners and shopping trips with a budget given to them by the school. Pottery painting during the last week of my co-op was a big highlight. 

Getting rush tickets to see Sweeney Todd on Broadway with my friend!

A question that I get a lot from parents on tours is, “is it hard to find community here if everyone is always leaving for co-op or study abroad?” In my experience, not at all! It was definitely something I was concerned about when I first accepted my co-op. As someone who generally has a hard time staying in touch with people, I was worried about maintaining my friendships. I was nervous about coming back and finding my footing again in Boston. But when I got back, I really felt like things resumed as if I had never left. I picked right back up, resuming my involvement in my clubs and enjoying Boston with a newfound appreciation. 

Dinner in NYC with other Northeastern Co-ops!

I grew so much in New York, both personally and professionally. I learned how to navigate a new environment, built new friendships, and jumped into opportunities outside of my comfort zone. For anyone who might be nervous to co-op away from Boston, my advice would be to just dive in headfirst. It may seem daunting at the beginning, but the experience is so worth it!