How lonely cities can feel after dorm life.
HOW LONELY CITIES CAN FEEL AFTER DORM LIFE.
Follow for more candid reflections on the post-grad journey.
We navigated intense coursework, late-night study sessions, and the vibrant hum of campus life. We graduated with a sense of purpose, ready to conquer the world, perhaps even feeling a little invincible. But then, the real world hit, and it wasn’t quite the seamless ascent we envisioned.
Suddenly, you're not just solving complex equations; you're also figuring out taxes, health insurance, and how to cook something beyond ramen. This 'adulting' thing? It’s a messy, often bewildering, undertaking that wasn't covered in any seminar or career fair. We were prepared to innovate, to lead, to excel – but not necessarily to manage our own utilities or grapple with the quiet anxieties of professional life.
And then there’s the quiet. The profound shift from communal dorms and constant social stimulation to the stark reality of a big city apartment. That bustling campus energy is replaced by anonymous crowds and the echoing silence of your own space. It’s a loneliness that can creep in unexpectedly, especially for those of us accustomed to an always-on community where connection was effortless. You realize how much of your social fabric was woven into shared living spaces and daily campus encounters.
We’re taught to strive for excellence, to achieve, to make an impact. But rarely are we warned about the emotional landscape of this transition – the unexpected isolation, the quiet struggles of building a new life from scratch, or the sheer effort it takes to find your tribe again outside the collegiate bubble. If you’re feeling this – whether you’re newly minted alumni or years into your career – know that you’re not alone. This weird transition, this quiet adulting, this urban solitude, it’s a shared experience. Let’s talk about it.