I always knew that going to college for the first time would have its challenges, but no one prepared me for moments when I would have to be alone whether in the classroom or the dining halls. In high school, I never had to be alone. I always had friends in my classes and was greeted with familiar faces and smiles daily. I knew everyone, and everyone knew me. But this is not the case in college.
Being in a totally new environment and meeting new people from all over the world was already overwhelming enough as a college freshman, and now I was faced with the fact that I was not going to have a friend with me at all times. I had to face my fear of eating alone in the dining halls, learn how to control my thoughts when I am by myself, figure out what solo activities I could do to waste time and, most importantly, realize that it is okay to be alone.
Trust me, it wasn’t an easy process. It took a lot of time and courage to fully accept that I am my own best company. It was hard at first, and at times, I felt really lonely. Sometimes I felt sad. But other times, I felt free, like nothing was holding me back from making decisions as I pleased. However, even in those moments of freedom, it is always nice to have a friend to talk to at the end of the day.
So, I learned how to balance my alone time and social time. On days when I was by myself, I would go on walks to Newbury Street or by the Charles River as a way to decompress. Sometimes, I would put on my favorite show in my dorm and have a spa night. I have realized that self-care is essential when spending time alone.
As for my social life, I try to meet all of my friends once a week for lunch or dinner. They don’t even have to be long chats; just an hour can suffice to catch up on everything. Doing this allows me to see my friends and enjoy my free time alone without feeling too lonely.
Now that I am a sophomore, I have learned to appreciate being by myself. With all my studying and extracurricular activities, sometimes I need a break. If I ever get the chance to have some alone time, I use it to relax so that I am mentally prepared for the next task. Despite the initial difficulties, I am okay with being alone in college now. At first, it was hard to balance time alone with my social life. But now that I have a routine, I am having a lot of fun all around.