Whether it is grabbing a meal, exploring a new part of town or simply spending time in nature, SCHS students and staff are finding different ways to go out by themselves. Solo outings are becoming a way to enjoy independence, focus on personal interests and experience new things at one’s own pace.

Sophomore Mykese McGee finds different opportunities to spend time by himself.

“I find it (going out alone) to be very comforting, especially with my dog (Atreiu), because he’s very relaxing to be with, and it’s honestly really important to me because it helps me think about stuff, especially doing school work because I have a lot sometimes,” McGee said. “Also being on the cheer team, it’s a lot to deal with, especially because they have a very high standard for us.”

Social science teacher David Ledesma notices himself heading to the theater alone, driven by his love for a genre that many of his friends and family do not share. While most people might shy away from some kinds of movies, Ledesma embraces them, even if it means enjoying them in solitude.

“A lot of times I go to the movies by myself because I like movies that other people don’t like,” Ledesma said. “I really really like horror movies or gory movies, and a lot of people don’t like that, so then I end up going by myself.”

Senior Ivana Fonkwo learned spending time with herself is comforting. She made the best of her outings by doing things she loves.

“Recently I went bowling, and it was amazing, I had three strikes. No one saw, but I knew I’d had three strikes. It was just fun,” Fonkwo said. “I went to the mall, I went bowling, I got stuff to eat at the bowling place, I had my headphones on, so it was just a really personalized experience.

For science teacher Angelese Reed, going out solo is a practical choice when facing conflicts while scheduling time with friends. Rather than staying in, Reed embraces the freedom of doing things on her own.

“My friends’ schedules are not in line, or they’re just not available, so instead of sitting at home by myself, I can still go out and do things,” Reed said. “I don’t have to have someone with me, and that’s okay.”

Reed experienced her first international trip to Mexico by herself. Despite some uneasy feelings, she ended up having a fun time.

“At first it was a little nerve wracking, but I had a good time. Then this other family who saw me traveling alone were like, ‘Hey, we’re going to go on this excursion. You wanna come with us?’ And so I went with them,” Reed said.

Likewise, Fonkwo’s friends cannot always make plans, creating the opportunity to spend more time alone. She wants to enjoy the final months of her senior year, regardless if her friends can be a part of those experiences or not.

“I noticed that I wasn’t going out a lot because it was so difficult to schedule things with my friends just because they have really busy schedules,” Fonkwo said. “I realized that I was missing out on a lot of different experiences, so I just wanted to make sure to take advantage of my time as a senior and a teenager and still see the things I want to see.”

Growing up with older sisters, Fonkwo has adapted to being by herself. This made Fonkwo realize that she can still have fun regardless of the presence of her close family members.

“In my family, we used to go out all the time, but as my sisters got older and more spread out, it was more difficult to schedule things,” Fonkwo said. “I didn’t get to go out as much as I used to, but then I just realized that I really missed those experiences and it was important to me to make sure to do the things that are just fun.”

In today’s fast-paced world, Reed finds that spending time alone can benefit students, not just in the classroom but in the outside world as well.

“I think students or teenagers have a hard time just being themselves and knowing who they are without being attached to their best friend or being attached to their boyfriend or girlfriend or their person,” Reed said. “They don’t ever really learn how to just be within themselves, so I think that does affect their development and their emotional well-being.”

Fonkwo believes there are false accusations about people who go out by themselves. She related these accusations to her friends, who are afraid to be seen in public by themselves because they are worried about being judged.

“There’s a stigma that we’re lonely people and talking to some of my friends, they feel very uncomfortable going out by themselves because they think other people will see them and think they’re lonely, so they just just crawl up in their holes,” Fonwko said.

McGee advised that one should take time out of their day to experience life by themselves because they will find it to be relaxing rather than frightening.

“I feel like some people think that because you’re going alone, it’s like you’re kind of a loner and you have no friends, but honestly, sometimes people need to go out alone,” McGee said. “It really helps you as a person and it makes you realize that being alone is not that bad.”