This is the time of my life. I've just graduated from Yale about a week ago with a degree in photography. I had an awesome time in college. I'm ready to start my life.

The only problem is that I have no idea how.

New Haven is, in a way, just like Lima. It's small and quiet and boring and there are absolutely no job openings for someone looking for a career in photography. I've got to get out of here...

Next thing I know I'm standing in front of the train station heading to New York. This is good right? New York is full of endless possibilities for someone like me. I'm ready to start my life. Or am I? I climb aboard the train with shaky hands and as fast as possible so I don't chicken out and turn around. I could live in New Haven, right? Get a nice apartment, maybe a cat... and I saw that Great Clips was hiring.

Stop Quinn! You're going to New York and you're going to kick ass at a job you actually want.

The strong and forceful side of my mind wins my internal debate and I plop down in my seat with a stuttery breath.

"First time on a train?"

I look next to me and see a man that's just about the definition of a homeless person. I try and smile and look polite but his odor was incredibly distracting. "No, just nervous I guess," I say with a grimace.

"Nervous for what?"

Despite the smell, the guy seems nice enough. Plus, it'd be nice to have someone to talk to for the time being. "Well, I just graduated from Yale, and so far I have no idea what to do with my life. I'm going to the city to see if I can find work. I suppose it's just a big change and I'm not sure if I'm ready, is all."

The man makes a very gruff noise that suits his appearance. "Yale, eh? You be some kinda fancy-shmancy girl. Well, I got one piece of advice for ya missy. Don't do drugs."

With that he sneezes obnoxiously loud and falls asleep merely seconds later. I stare wide-eyed and poke him to make sure he's alive. Yea, I definitely won't be doing any drugs.

I debate switching seats to avoid any more strange conversation with the homeless man. But then again, I could just fall asleep and scoot really far away from him. I close my eyes and curl into a ball as far away from Hobo as possible. A few minutes later, I hear him rustling around in his seat. I will myself to just keep breathing evenly and keep my eyes closed. All of the sudden I feel a weight on my side and I peek an eye open slightly. From the corner of my eye, I see his head curled comfortably into my hip and a passenger looking at me with pity in her eyes and trying not to laugh. This is going to be a long ride...

I'm still awake and staring at Hobo with disgust by the time the train comes to a stop. The jolt doesn't seem to wake him so I take it upon myself to just high-tail it out of there and push him off.

I nearly knock over an old lady with the speed in which I'm running down the walkway. I mutter an apology behind me and hop off the train with a very deep breath. It smells like urine, but still a lot better than Hobo. I guess I could get used to it.

When I walk out of Grand Central Station I take in all the people, noises, and smells. Yea this is totally my style.

Before I check into a cheap hotel or go job hunting, I decide to have a little bit of fun and go down Broadway. I'm having a good time just strolling though the city before I stop dead in my tracks in front of a marquee. But this isn't just any marquee. This marquee has Rachel fucking Berry's name on it. Literally it says, 'Starring Rachel Berry'.

Well no shit. That woman was born to play Fanny Brice. I have a strong urge to just scream out to the public saying, "Yea that's right, Rachel Berry and I went to high school together and she is on Broadway people. Fucking Broadway." Or maybe calling her and asking, "Did you know that you're starring in the musical you've been obsessed with since preschool?" But I'm fairly certain that she's fully aware of that fact. And I'm also certain that I don't even have her phone number anymore. I got a new phone the first year of college and lost all of my contacts.

For some reason I get really glad about the news of Rachel on Broadway. She got so much shit in high school, this is like some sort of 'fuck you' to anyone who shot her down. Including me...

But besides that, I feel like anything is possible. I really want to reconnect with her and all that good stuff. Maybe I'll go to one of her shows and surprise her backstage. scratch that, I'm definitely going to one of her shows.

I haven't even realized that I've been daydreaming and I nearly walk straight into a large metal and glass building. When I look up I notice that it's the New York Times headquarters building. What the heck, anything's possible right? I walk in and submit one of my photos and articles I keep in my bag for times like these. What have I got to lose?

But if I do lose something, it's your fault, Berry.

Next stop, somewhere to sleep. I keep walking further and further away from the tourist destinations like Times Square so that the hotel rates get cheaper. That's how it works right? The lesser quality, the cheaper it is?

I manage to stumble upon a place called Bowery Grand Hotel. It was cheap enough for a shit room and it was close to Little Italy and Chinatown, which is awesome because, seriously? Who can turn down Italian food?