Well, in case you haven’t figured it out by now, I went to New York City over Spring break with Mr. Nagel and some other students, including my two friends, Abby Delbene and Colby Reid. And I’m writing this to tell you what we did, and why you should go next year.

First of all, one of the main reasons you should go is for the Broadway shows you see Thursday and Friday, but if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see one on Sunday too. The three shows we saw this year, in order by day, are as follows:

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Dear Evan Hansen
• Chicago

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is pretty self-explanatory, if you’ve seen the movies, but it has a morbid twist to it, making it something different for a Broadway production, and the chocolate factory itself.

Dear Evan Hansen is the 13 Reasons Why of Broadway, so to speak, but 10 times better, with amazing music. Ben Platt, who played Benji in Pitch Perfect 1 and 2, plays Evan Hansen, and he really makes you believe his character with his use of method acting, 10/10 recommend.

Chicago was very good and funny. It wasn’t the favorite out of the three for most people, but it was for some.

During the two-and-a-half days you’re there, you get to walk around the entirety of Manhattan, and basically figure stuff out for yourself. You must have a walking group, so it’s recommended that you find some friends to go with you. You and your walking group may do whatever you want in the city, as long as you meet the rest of the group at the specific meeting times for dinner/the show.

This trip brings on a sense of freedom and major responsibility, so you must be prepared to navigate subways and avenues/streets when here, as well as managing your money and when to look out for scammers along the main streets.

If I haven’t won you over yet, hear me out. This trip is a two-and-a-half day trip of being able to explore the city on your own, and having the trust and responsibility to do so. The fee is a little pricey, but you’re paying for your hotel, your breakfast/dinner, and your tickets to Broadway.

My trip consisted of not only the Broadway shows, but a lot of touristy things as well, such as going to Times Square (because you can’t just not go to Times Square), Rockefeller Center, 5th Ave., Tiffany’s on 5th Ave. (because when in New York..right?), the MET, Shake Shack (the BEST fast food joint on the East Coast), Union Square (where you can spot a lot of college students), Central Park (LOADED with dogs, 10/10 recommend), Grand Central Station, and much more.