I Actually Like New Jersey: An Illustrated Confession

After moving in with my parents, I discovered the suburbs don't suck after all.

• Admitting something that used to bring me shame. In high school, I planned on graduating early just to flee New Jersey and its “embarrassing” boringness as fast as possible. Now, years later, I am actually in awe of this state. But confessing to my new point of view—1) New Jersey rocks 2) Living with my parents as a grown adult was pretty sweet 3) Moving out of this cocoon was pretty petrifying—is something I never would have dared to do. So I’m doing it.

• Saying yes to new things. Back in New York, I’ve been given multiple opportunities to try my hand at being an amateur (e.g., watercoloring at a figure drawing event, dancing bachata in broad daylight). Instinctively, I’ve wanted to turn these invites down out of fear of being a nincompoop. But choosing to play without focusing on performance is actually so much more fun.

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A born and bred Jersey girl that shuddered as she typed out “Jersey girl,” Tatiana Gallardo has only seen season one of The Sopranos and doesn’t listen to Bruce Springsteen. But she’s still a proud New Jersey-ian—even though she’s back to living in New York.