By Emily Carson
April 28, 2025

Some days, it just hits me harder than others — the loneliness.

I know I have so much to be thankful for. I’m doing great in college, I’ve built a solid group of friends, I’m active in different clubs, and I’m proud of the life I’ve made for myself. Honestly, a younger version of me would be so proud. She dreamed of all this — independence, confidence, success. I should be satisfied. I am grateful.

But sometimes, no matter how much good I have, I can’t help but feel like something important is missing. Love, relationships… all the things that seem to come so easily for other people feel like this impossible, locked door for me. I was always the “independent one,” the girl who never needed a boyfriend to feel complete. And I believed it. I wore it like armor.

Now though? It feels like I’m losing a battle I didn’t even know I was fighting. Watching everyone around me pair off, fall in love, have these moments… it feels like I missed a train that everyone else was smart enough to catch. And even worse, I end up feeling guilty about it. Like I have no right to complain when I’ve been given so much.

But I guess loneliness doesn’t care how well the rest of your life is going. It creeps in anyway.

I don’t know if there’s something wrong with me. Maybe I’m just not good at this one thing everyone else seems to master so naturally. Maybe my time will come. I don’t know.

Anyway, thanks for reading if you made it this far. I hope if you’re feeling even a little like this too, you know you’re not alone. We’re all just trying our best.