Traveling undoubtedly got me through college. In any facet of life, work without play can feel daunting, and the transitional phase otherwise known as undergrad is no exception. It’s vital for students to find an outlet for “play,” whatever form that may take.
For me, it was solo travel. Solo travel has been known to promote self-growth, develop personal freedom and boost self-confidence. This is beneficial for college students as it fosters opportunities for growth during one of the most influential periods of their lives. Furthermore, it gives them a chance to see the world and understand everything it has to offer as they begin to make choices about their futures.
I didn’t initially plan for my trip to New York City to be a solo adventure. It was meant to be a girl’s trip with my best friend. My friend had to back out of the trip last minute, leaving me with a non-refundable hotel reservation on my hands.
At first, traveling solo seemed like a non-option. It took a friend casually asking, “Why don’t you just go alone? There’s a million things to do in New York City?” for me to pause and ask myself the same question.
So, I did. I hopped on Viator, TikTok and Facebook to find some things to do. I found a TikTok video featuring an evening boat tour of the Manhattan skyline and I decided it was something I wanted to see. Soon thereafter, I found an excursion that fit the bill. The day was warm and sunny, and I dressed accordingly.
After throwing on a camisole, some shorts and a thin jacket (in case there was a breeze on the boat), I remembered to stuff my charger and base into my bag as well as some cash before rushing downstairs to catch an Uber. On the ride there, I asked my Uber driver to charge my phone while I lounged in the back. The boat ride was beautiful, the ambiance was great and I managed to find a nice, cushy spot at the back of the boat where I could get a good view.
Afterward, I walked the pier and took what would become some of my favorite pictures to this day. At this point, my phone battery was nearly depleted, but I formed a plan in my mind: I would go find a little café and charge my phone for a bit while I found a place to Uber to for dinner. Preferably somewhere near my hotel. At the time, I didn’t consider that it was 9:40 p.m. and most cafés were closed, nor did I pay much mind to the worrisome level of my battery. In fact, those issues didn’t bother me until the rain started.
It was misleading at first, a light drizzle. It was when the rain became a downpour that I minimized my expectations. I settled for an ATM nestled behind the doors inside of a bank. I spied an outlet on the wall, and my plan shifted. I’d let my phone charge while I waited for the rain to stop. This sounded fine until I entered the room and rummaged through my purse. I grabbed my cell phone cable with my left hand; it was missing a base. But that couldn’t be right; I definitely had it. I dumped my purse on the floor and searched to no avail. No base. Must’ve fallen in the Uber. I looked down at my phone, poised to call for a ride home — only to watch it die in my hands.
I sat there for a moment, the panic rising in my throat, behind my eyes and even in my gut. It was approximately 10:17 PM when my phone died. I was alone somewhere in Chinatown with no phone and no friends. I stuffed all my belongings into my small purse and set off into the night.
Should I ask a stranger to use their phone? Call my mom? No, she’d panic. My sister then? No, what could she do? I’d only worry them, and it would confirm my fears that I shouldn’t be doing this in the first place. Out of options, I began running through the streets, which were far too empty to belong to the city I’d seen on television and social media. I ran aimlessly for what felt like hours until I saw a small building with glass windows and people milling about inside. I entered and asked around about nearby stores, a nice lady pointed to two different exits. Turn right for a Walgreens, left for a CVS. Which one is closer? The Walgreens. Off I went, trying to ignore the rain soaking me through to my socks.
I found the Walgreens. Closed. I forced the panic down again. There was nowhere to go but forward. So, I did. I found a tiny store and bought an overpriced base for my phone charger. I found a place to charge it 20 minutes after the shop owner shooed me away. So I sat in a lobby that was far too fancy for my soaked-through outfit while a nice security guard charged my phone behind the table, and then, finally, I called an Uber.
Back at my hotel well after midnight, I showered, redressed and went out again. This time to Times Square, determined to end the night on a high note. As the rain slowed, life returned to the streets of New York City and Times Square shone in all its splendor. Looking back, I value this experience more than most things in my life. Overcoming that moment made me feel like I could truly do anything, and it was the beginning of many solo traveling misadventures to come.
