I studied abroad in London to meet new people. I fell in love with my own company instead.

"As a lifelong proponent of close friends and tight circles, I saw this as my opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and meet new people, whether that was in my Shakespeare class or at random cafés around the city. I'd lived in the Midwestern suburbs my whole life before moving to Syracuse (a place that didn't feel much different) for school. So, in London, I was looking forward to making friends in a new kind of cityscape."

"Though I had a built-in group with my flatmates, we ended up having completely different schedules. I didn't know anybody else in my program, either, so I left class alone every day and took the Tube to museums and bookstores. At first, I felt self-conscious being on my own. I would try to pull out a book to read, but I couldn't focus."

The summer before junior year I signed up to study abroad in London for four months with the explicit goal of meeting new people. I came from Midwestern suburbs and Syracuse and expected to broaden my social circle through classes, flatmates, and nights out. Flatmates had different schedules, so I spent many days leaving class alone and exploring museums and bookstores by myself. Initially I felt self-conscious, struggled to read, and relied on Google Maps. Over time I grew comfortable with solitude and ultimately treasured my time alone more than anticipated.

Read at Business Insider