Surrounding USC sites can help students with solitude
From a young age, we learn how important connections with others are. When we were little, we’d come home from the first day of school and our parents would ask, “Did you make any friends?” Coincidentally, it’s also one of the first questions we’re asked upon entering college. Everyone’s concern for companionship is a way of making sure he or she feels secure. The downside of this, however, is the belief that if we don’t meet a certain quota, we don’t really “have friends.” We pay more attention to the quantity of friends than the quality of those relationships. Many times we are surrounded by others, but we still feel left out. This usually leads to a less-than-happy evening of self-pity. Combatting this takes a particular way of communication and understanding with those around you. There is a way to find the light in the times when we are actually alone. There are many things that can be more therapeutic than they seem.
If you’re the type of person who can’t be alone with your thoughts, one thing I like to advise is leaving the house. Find something to do that calms you down and saves you money. This past weekend, I took a trip to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to take my mind off the present. Most art museums offer a student discount and some are even free for students, such as the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, which also has free parking. The California Science Center and the Natural History Museum are free as well and are conveniently across from campus, next to the Coliseum.
If museums aren’t your thing, another method of mental escape I indulge in is being outside in nature. Given the recent heatwave, it’s difficult to know which days are going to be good, but if you don’t care, the Rose Garden is free and right across the street from campus on Exposition Boulevard. It’s a great way to be outdoors without being trapped in unknown territory and small enough if you can only afford a 30-minute break. Another nearby park is Grand Park, in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. The park almost always has an event happening, including markets, afternoons of music or food. For instance, “Lunch à La Park” takes place every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with food trucks along Olive Street and the Marketplace.
If leaving the house isn’t an option or if you prefer to handle your stresses in the comfort of your home, indulge in a great movie, sleep and make sure you eat and drink water. It’s temporary relief for even the worst of days. It’s also good to sometimes throw yourself into work to take your mind off things, like the class readings you’re behind on or even cleaning your place. When I’m stuck at home, I like to write in my journal because it lets me flesh out my thoughts. There is a book called Q & A a Day: 5-Year Journal which allows you to answer a question a day for a year for five years. When you complete a year, you start over at the same date to compare. Even if you are not the type to keep up with these sorts of things, it’s a good start for finding an emotional break and it’s also only $10 on Amazon.
There are a myriad of ways to combat loneliness. One way is to spend time alone to find beauty in solitude. Just outside campus, there are museums and places to transport patrons away from their troubles. There are also other activities to relieve stress. These activities are reminders that being alone and being lonely are completely different things. College is the best time to understand that concept.