This year, my school schedule doesn’t seem to line up with any of my friends. While a select few still live on or near campus, the rest commute, so I only see them if we happen to cross paths. This has led me to have a lot more alone time than usual. While I spend this time doing my homework, practicing Spanish, or simply enjoying the quietness of life, I have also realized it has become more difficult to plan trips and fun nights out. Either someone in the friend group is working or in class. Syncing schedules and plans feels like a 1-in-a-million chance to make it out of the group chat. So, where does that leave me? Experiencing new adventures alone.
At first, the idea of doing a solo paint night, and sitting at a table with other students who are most likely better than me at painting, was daunting. I tried, and trust me, I really did, to get any of my friends to go, but it simply wasn’t possible. Alas, I really wanted to do the painting, so alone it was. What I didn’t know was that this would turn out to be more fun than I had imagined. I met two girls who were silly and went with the flow. We all constantly complimented each other’s paintings and shared many laughs for the 2-hour painting period. Eventually, we all went our separate ways, but we all had a fun time. This got me thinking, why is there so much fear around trying new things or going to new places alone? So many people feel uncomfortable sitting alone at a restaurant, going to a concert, or going to a bar alone. Why do we feel the need to have someone we know around us all the time for social gatherings? Is it for comfort, safety, or so we don’t look awkward to others?
One of the biggest and arguably scariest things I have accomplished so far in my life was studying abroad. This was something I did alone. No one else from Jefferson went to Costa Rica with me. I didn’t know anyone else in the program, and I didn’t, and still don’t, know Spanish fluently. Despite this, I continued on with it. I studied abroad for 3 months and made so many new friends, many of whom I still keep in contact with. I met people from all over the United States and stepped out of my comfort zone. Did I look awkward and feel nervous? Absolutely, who doesn’t, but I didn’t let this fear stop me. So, what’s stopping you? Who’s stopping you from going to your favorite restaurant alone? What’s stopping you from going to that bowling alley you like and bowling alone? Nothing. Experiencing new life adventures alone opens the door to making new friends and building new connections you most likely wouldn’t have if you had a friend there to hide behind. Next time you want to do something or go somewhere but have no one else to go with, just do it. You never know who or what is waiting for you unless you go.