Media credit: A. Sinagoga - PCVB/GoPhila.com

by Francesca Galarus
Suburban transplant, Drexel student, Phillies phan

Let’s face it, Philadelphia is not known for its ray of positivity. Rather, the clouds shrouded over us act as a blanket, nurturing our harbored negativity. We endure horrifying murder rates. Our public school system is imperfect. We’ve been dubbed a sixth borough to the city we do not wish to become.

However within the last week, Philadelphia has, for all intents and purposes, turned into Disney World, and while I’ve always loved this city, I have never been happier and prouder to be a resident. Starting with the Phillies even having a glint of hope at winning the World Series, an electric buzz could be felt throughout the city. People smiled more, strangers didn’t avoid eye contact, businesses thrived. Philadelphia was awash with red. Then, with the win, not only were people smiling - strangers were hugging, high-fiving and toasting champagne (or Steel Reserve) in the middle of Broad Street.

We didn’t even have time to fully digest this well-deserved and so-desired World Champion status, when our country surprised even itself by making a decision to elect our first black president. For Philadelphia, this is a man who represents the demographics of more than half of our residents and the views of the registered Democratic voters who make up three-quarters of our population. These monumental events have cast more than a ray of positivity on Philadelphia; our Phillies and our new president have broken through the clouds to cast such a glow that it may take Philadelphians months to come down from this high. Or at least until the next Eagles game.

While I plan to leave Philadelphia upon graduation, I always vehemently express (to all those haters) that I am not making this decision because I don’t like it here. As affirmed, I love Philadelphia, even before this week. It is the city which I have been a part of for more than 20 years. And from losing my front tooth in front of the Liberty Bell to paying rent for my first apartment, I have made lasting memories here that shape who I have grown to be.

I know that I will return here. In fact, my mother made promise to “have my babies” in Philadelphia, a vow that I am only too happy to keep. I also know that when I do, the sight of the skyline will bring a wide smile to my face and a rush treasured stories and experiences to the front of my memory, just as it always does, even if I’m only driving over the Walt Whitman Bridge, returning home from a day at the shore.