At the closing of another year, the NYU Local Staff has turned to glean the lessons we have each learned, the little tidbits we take with us into another summer after our time at NYU and in New York City. So here are the best lessons of 2012, neatly packed into Felicity-like monologues.

“It was finals week, and then I had a thought:

You actually have time to read: “No, really, you do. For all of last year, I felt like I was too busy, stretched hour by hour, and I couldn’t do anything as time-consuming as going to the park and reading a book. But spend a few hours every week outside and stuck in a book. It sounds cheesy, but really improves perspective for the rest of the week. Especially if you used to read obsessively in high school like a lot of us.”

There’s no shame in being a tourist in NYC: “I used to snub certain NYC attractions because they felt cheesy. Studying around Europe has changed my feelings about this. There’s obviously a balance here — but there’s so much I haven’t seen in NYC, despite living there for a couple years. Started making a list about places to go, I’ve never been to the MET!”

It’s cool to do the dishes: “Rather than let all your room mates’ nasty dishes pile up to the ceiling or freak out at them about it, why not just wash them? It’s like a shower for your hands and your dishes at the same time, and I find it quite soothing. I used to think that my room mates would take it as a sign of weakness, and consequently never cease to take advantage of me. But to my surprise, we’re just better friends, and they do the dishes now, sometimes.”

No one wants to be Miranda: “I feel like at least one time every freshman year, you will be in a group of four and someone will say “Oh my god, this is just like Sex and the City!” And like every misguided and naive girl or gay will do, you will call out “I am Samantha!” , “You’re such a Carrie!” ,”Char!”, or the awful ”I’m a Carrie/Samantha”. The odd one out with sit awkwardly  before resigning, “I’m Miranda”. Because no one wants to be Miranda, ever.”

You can leave the city:  ”After studying abroad in Europe and going on weekend jaunts to Paris or Berlin, I realized that we can all actually do the same in New York. Despite our tendency to stay on campus or in our neighborhood, there’s lots to do which is only a short train or bus ride away. Weekend trips to Boston, Philly or DC are all doable for a $20 bus fare. Or you can go hiking at great parks only an hour out of the city on Metro North. Breathing in air fresher than that in Central Park feels great, and if you leave early enough, you’ll be back in the city for dinnertime.”

Savour the lil moments: ”Make time for friends, family, beers, shopping, eating, coffee, reading, or whatever it is that makes you happy, especially during the more stressful moments of college. Those are the things that will keep you sane when everything else is a little crazy.”

Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something: “NYU is huge. People confuse you with other people who’ve passed trough here and who may have not met their expectations. If your department chair tells you you can’t write a thesis as a junior, your roommate scoffs at your poetry, or your parents wonder if you’ll survive abroad, show how much you disagree with them and have a discussion about it! Keep your eye on the prize and when people try to step in the way of your achievement of your goals, politely and firmly and considerately push by them and get where you want to go.”