Living in New York as a teenager can be the best experience you ever have. With all the things that there are to do, it can be easy to lose yourself in where to go, who to hang out with, and what to do.

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[edit] Steps

Make friends. Get with a group of people at school that are nice, fun, and energetic. People who aren't afraid to explore and do new things can be fun to hang out with. Make sure that you can study with this group of people so that you can keep your grades up or make a separate group of friends to study and do work with. It's good to make friends at other schools or meet people through friends. Be friendly with everyone.
Keep your grades up. You want to get good grades to secure your future and place in a good college. Getting bad grades is not alright. If you get distracted studying/doing homework at home, head to a library. New York has excellent public libraries. Get a group of friends to go and make it a study day just make sure you don't get distracted.
Have extracurricular activities. It can be a little lame to go home every day after school and not do anything. Take up a club or sport at school or sign up for a class like dance, music, art, martial arts. These are fun, will keep you busy, are a cool thing to talk about, and look good on your college application.
Explore neighborhoods. Take out a map of the city and look at neighborhoods you don't normally travel to. It's good to familiarize yourself with most parts of Manhattan and a few activities, hang out spots, and places to eat in each neighborhood. New York City teens, like other New Yorkers, pretty much know their entire borough and city inside and out
Be savvy in getting around. Make sure you have a MetroCard and know how to take the subway and buses. Having a cell phone also helps when going to meet your friends. Always carry some extra money for a cab just in case. Most teenagers don't do this, but it helps.
Negotiate with the parents. Get a curfew so that you can stay out on weekends and have fun. Make sure you keep your grades up and your room clean to help your case if you have difficulty negotiating.
Wear the right clothes for you. Get clothes that you like. Make sure you establish a style. Don't be afraid to experiment. Try stores like Forever 21 and H&M. As well as lesser known vintage/trendy places on the Lower East Side. Skinny jeans and converse are essential but since you do live in the city you do have a bit more mobility in what you can pull off than you would in the suburbs. Bright colors, more formal attire, and high heels are acceptable for the city. Try 34th Street for shopping.
Listen to music. Get a good taste in music. Try listening to more indie/rock bands but be familiar with more mainstream stuff as well.
Get connectivity. Get Facebook. It takes a while for a lot of people to get it but you'll be more connected and can keep in touch with friends and new acquaintances you make along the way. It's also a great place to find events like parties and concerts. Check out places like the knitting factory, don hills, and the bowery poetry club. You more than likely also know someone whose in a band. Go to one of their gigs and get the feel of that crowd and see if you like them. Check your Facebook regularly and talk to people you know even if it's just casual like "hey, what's up" and you don't talk to them that much in person.
Enjoy your life. Smile a little, and don't be afraid to try new things. Take some risks and live a little but make sure you have a solid base with a good group of friends and good grades.