Life After College: It’s Lonely Out Here!

By Jenni

There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned American holiday to make you realize how alone you are in this world. Everything’s been going pretty well (according to my new post-college standards of pretty well) and I thought that for the most part I was building up quite the little social network of friends who would make me not feel quite so isolated. We would Gchat at work, grab Pinkberry here and there, perhaps even attend the occasional happy hour.

But apparently that social network of friends was a pure figment of my imagination.

July 4th came out of nowhere and everyone (people I’ve never spoken to) kept asking me what I was planning on doing. On the outside I remained calm and collected and responded with dignity; I’ll figure it out. But on the inside I was panicking like it was Halloween eve and my only available costume was sexy bunny. I would casually bring it up to my “friends” and they all would respond with excitement about boat trips with friends, annual family BBQ’s, and lake houses in states I thought were made-up. Then they would ask me what I was doing and I would mumble something about fireworks and hot dogs and anti-terrorism laws.

I started to tell myself that it would be fun to spend the day alone. I don’t even own an American flag and hot dogs give me stomach problems. This holiday really isn’t for me, anyways. But then like an 11:59 new years eve kiss potential coming out of nowhere, a former camper called me and said she wanted to do something. Sure she’s 18 and sure I had to hand pick her up from the train because her mom said so, but now at least I could say I was doing something.

Unfortunately, once I made those plans no one even asked me my plans anymore. So I went to dinner with the former camper and we talked prom and summer and being so over high school friends (except I really am because hers still call her to do things). The whole night made me feel youthful again and wise with advice for her pre-college ears. And also hostile because tourists were heading for the fireworks 8 hours early and barreling their fold-up lawn chairs into everyone on the subway.

But I can’t complain, because at least I found someone who wanted to spend the holiday with me.

I guess I better start booking my Labor Day weekend ASAP. Step 1: make real friends in NYC.