Pulling Up from Three: A New York Comeback Story

Carmelo Anthony has been inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame, Class of 2025.

I still remember watching Melo at Madison Square Garden, taking on Kobe Bryant and the Lakers years ago. And of course, there was the chaos of Linsanity when he teamed up with breakout star Jeremy Lin — it felt like anything was possible at the Garden back then.

Melo’s always been one of my favorite players. I even dressed up as him for Halloween back in 2009 — warm-up pants, jersey, headband and all. I wasn’t just watching the Knicks — I was a Knick, at least for one October night.

And now, it feels like the timing is cosmic. Because in my own small way, I’m about to step into a new arena too — one I’ve been trying to break into for many, many, many months now: healthcare and pharmaceutical PR.

No, it’s not the Hall of Fame. And I’m definitely not a superstar (yet). But securing a summer internship at a top-tier PR and marketing firm? It feels like Olympic Gold. Starting this June, I’ll be heading back to the Big Apple.

Here’s how it went down: I was working on a writing sample for a potential internship — my first shot at agency-style writing. I’d been studying press release templates and past samples, trying to shape something clean and professional. Midway through, I took one of those "just checking" breaks and refreshed my inbox for the millionth time this month.

And there it was.

“Charley, HR wants to speak with you. Thanks for taking the time to apply.”

My gut reaction? Rejection. I figured it was the usual polite no. My stomach dropped.

Fast forward a couple of hours: I’m in a Zoom waiting room, two coffees deep, sweating like a chocolate fountain at a Bar Mitzvah. When they finally let me in, HR hit me with the news — I’ve been accepted into their eight-week summer internship in the health division.

I’d been nudging (okay, borderline nagging) this company for over a year. To finally get the yes? It felt like the crowd at MSG chanting my name as I pulled up from three like Melo.

But this is just the tip-off.

Now I’ve got to figure out where I’m going to live this summer — whether that means hunting for an accessible sublet, looking into NYU housing again, finding an Airbnb or extended-stay hotel for eight weeks, or — last resort — staying with family in an apartment where my wheelchair doesn’t fit into the bathroom. It’s time to dust off the Facebook housing groups, reconnect with former NYC caretakers, and see who might be available. My dog needs room to roam, and we’ll need a good dog park nearby, too.

I also want to keep making progress on my extended cannabis break — just to stay sharp and in control. And I’ve got to figure out how to balance this internship with my current job at Rare Disease Research LLC — most likely running their social media during evenings, weekends, or PTO days.

On top of all that, I’m thinking about reconnecting with old NYU friends and rebuilding a sense of community — something that’s felt a bit missing post-college. It’s a lot to line up before heading back to the city that never sleeps. But like 2Pac said in Me Against the World: “I know it seems hard sometimes, but remember one thing: through every dark night, there's a bright day after that. So no matter how hard it gets, stick your chest out, keep your head up, and handle it.”

With our backs against the wall, we proceed at all costs.