The Palisades
Growing up in New York, I never truly understood what it meant to belong to a community. Life there moved fast people brushed past each other on the streets, strangers came and went, and familiar faces were rare. It was a city full of movement, but somehow, it felt isolating.
That all changed when I was five.
My family moved to the Palisades, and though I didn’t fully understand what that meant, I wasn’t leaving much behind. What I found here was something I never knew I needed: connection. My first week was a blur of confusion and excitement new faces at Pali Rec, my first lunch at the old Panda Express, unfamiliar streets slowly becoming my own.
And over time, those new faces returned again and again. They became friends. They became family. Without realizing it, I was becoming part of something larger than myself something rooted in shared memories, laughter, and growth.
The Palisades gave me what New York never could: a sense of belonging. It showed me that community isn’t just about geography it’s about people, shared experiences, and the feeling that you’re never truly alone.
My One Word: Familiar
I’ve learned what it means to be a part of something bigger, something as special as the Palisades.
