The first thing you notice on the New York City subway is the noise. A performer practices trumpet in the corner, a toddler yells “Next stop!” at full volume, two strangers argue about the Yankees and someone hums with their headphones half on. The seats are orange, yellow, blue — a mismatched combination. In simpler words, it’s chaotic. Then you ride the Seoul subway. Everyone faces forward, earphones in, eyes down. The seats are monochromatic, the walls silver. Every movement feels intentional and controlled — careful not to disturb. Personally, when I ride the subway in Korea, I feel nervous and often hesitant to make a sound. After experiencing both, I realized something important. We severely underestimate how environments like the subway shape how young people behave. But here is where I disagree with the common assumption about mental health. Most people may argue that chaotic, noisy, overstimulating environments harm mental well-being. Studies show that noise raises stress levels, disrupts sleep and increases anxiety. That’s true — noise can absolutely be harmful.