Tatiana Barber: My Independence Day

All week, we will be celebrating our very own "Independence"! Today, we feature mother, wife, student, United States Navy veteran, and SSNY family, Tatiana Barber. Here she talks about her upcoming "Independence Day," and how she anticipates its arrival and ultimately her transformation.

Who is She: Tatiana Barber, Age 24

Where is She From: Queens/Brooklyn, New York

What Does She Do: United States Navy, Mother, Wife, Student

I am so New York because no matter how far I am, the Big Apple will always be in my heart. I live, breathe, AM New York!

My Independence day won't be until Oct 5 2010:  that is my last day in the United States Navy. I will finally have a chance to be free! After joining the Navy fresh out of Culinary School in 2005, finally leaving means so much more to me than anyone could ever know. I can FINALLY be an adult that can do what I want with my life: change my hair color, get a new tattoo and most importantly for me: become a college student. My life is changing so much and for the better and on that day I will rejoice: Long Live MY Liberty!

Jasmine Mondesir: My Independence Day

All week, we will be celebrating our very own "Independence"! Today, we feature mother, student, and SSNY diva, Jasmine Mondesir. Here she talks about her "Independence Day," and how it transformed her life.

Who is She: Jasmine Mondesir, age 28

Where is She From: Brooklyn, New York

What Does She Do: Mother, Student

"I am So New York because... I said so Fuhgeddaboutit!"

My Independence day came in 2 stages...

May 9th 2010: I boarded a plane with my 2 little ones in tow and set off on what I would call a vacation of sorts. I wanted to get away from my family and have space to just relax and think about my life. While out of New York for a month, being away gave me some perspective. I realized that my life wasn't bound to NYC and although I loved it there maybe it was a time for me to make a change.

Upon my booking my return ticket to NYC, opportunity happened to knock on my door and I answered: I was accepted into college! Something I had been putting off for a long time was showing itself again - and this time I wasn't going to ignore it. I returned to NYC for a total of 4 days, wrapped up some business and on June 15th 2010, I said goodbye to NYC for what may be for good.
June 15th 2010 my life started over. I left all the negative things about me, my life and my past at JFK airport and began the journey towards being the best woman, mother, student, daughter, role model I can be.

She's So New York is asking you: When was YOUR Independence Day? Did you leave a bad relationship? A dead-end job to pursue a passion? Your country/state/town for the bright lights of the Big Apple? We are asking for your triumph stories! Send them to our NEW e-mail address: besonewyork@gmail.com! Remember: YOUR story may help someone rewrite their own!

ND McCray: My Independence Day

Literally, my independence day was August 9, 2002 —my last day on active duty in the United States Air Force. Though I wouldn’t “officially” be free of my eight-year obligation until January 5, 2003, mentally, I was free as a nomad!

Don’t get me wrong, the military was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I truly enjoyed; I met wonderful people (some of whom are still my best friends); I traveled practically to every major U.S. city you can think of, as well as lived in Haiti and Japan --but living in what I considered a “confined creative state” for essentially all of my twenties (a time when we do our most growing), when I came back to civilian life…I didn’t have a clue as to what I wanted to be as I was growing up. As a result it took me five years (2003-2008) to finally figure out that all the years I had been telling friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances about all the different music I was listening to, all the concerts I was attending, all the movies I was watching, books I was reading, that I was all but living my dream job and didn’t even know it.

So I’m no longer afraid to say it: At 33-years old I didn’t have all the answers to my life’s purpose. To be honest, at 35, I still don’t. I’m constantly exploring new things and new cultures and ideas, so who knows if I’ll ever want to have it all figured out. All I know is that everyday before I go to sleep I say, “Thank You” because I’ve had some of my lowest points in these last couple of years and I don’t take any of what’s being given to me for granted. And trust, I’ve worked by ass off to get to New York and I’ll continue to work it (no pun intended, okay maybe a little). But before I go, I’ll leave you all with one of my favorite quotes because it epitomizes my journey during that five-year soul searching period:

“Do everything you can think of doing, so you know what you don’t want to do for the rest of your life”.

Live Love Pass It On


-ND McCray

All week, we will be celebrating our very own "Independence Week! She's So New York is asking you: When was YOUR Independence Day? Did you leave a bad relationship? A dead-end job to pursue a passion? Your country/state/town for the bright lights of the Big Apple? We are asking for your triumph stories! Send them to our NEW e-mail address: besonewyork@gmail.com! Remember: YOUR story may help someone rewrite their own!