Recently, I went on a solo trip to New York City. I stayed by myself in a student hostel, I ate by myself, and I went everywhere alone, accompanied only by my camera. When I told my friends that I was going alone, I was always asked the same questions: Are you meeting someone there? Aren’t you going to be lonely? What are you going to do by yourself? Will it be safe? Why would you want to do that?
I found it hard to articulate why I wanted to embark on this solo trip. This was my first time going anywhere for an extended period of time by myself, and I was eagerly, if not nervously, anticipating what I would encounter. I’ve had time to reflect on what this trip meant, and I can firmly say that everyone should experience a solo trip at least once.
- No Constraints
Often, when I travel with friends or family, I find myself frustrated and stressed out by the constraints placed upon me. It can be challenging to align all the same interests, so this time when I went, I did what I wanted, on my time.
2. Do everything you want to do, or do nothing at all
Sometimes, all I want to do is relax and read a book without worrying about getting to this destination at this certain time. I found that when I travelled by myself, I could do exactly that. I could be selfish and not be guilty, because for once, I was doing something for me.
3. Finally getting some true alone time
In college, it’s hard to treat yourself to alone time. We’re constantly surrounded by people, whether in or out of the room. It can get overwhelming, and taking some time to just be by yourself, to think and to reflect, can be extremely relaxing. I found that walking around New York and not having to worry about who I was meeting next provided some quality time that I haven’t had in a long time.
4. It’s really not as scary, or as dangerous as you would think
As a young female who has been taught extensively about the dangers of traveling alone and having seen ‘Taken’ multiple times, I was quite apprehensive about safety. However, it really is about being self-aware and cautious. Certain things are basic common sense, and others just requires you to be more observant of your surroundings.
5. Self-empowerment
There’s nothing quite like the proud feeling you get when you conquer the New York subway (definitely not as intimidating as when I first rode it way back when!), or when you sit down by yourself at a proper restaurant to eat a meal by yourself. I took control of what I wanted to do, and I was forced to rely on myself. Once you get past the fear of being alone, you stop caring about what people are thinking and become more confident in yourself.
The time that I had to myself was a time of reflection and absolute freedom. I’ve learnt a lot about myself in just a few days, and I absolutely do not regret it. One of my dreams is to travel around Europe by myself; this trip was just a teaser and helped me build my confidence. I highly encourage you to take a trip, no matter how short, by yourself. Trust yourself and your gut instinct: you’ll be surprised how much you’ll learn about yourself and how rewarding independence really is.
