I’m 31 years young and currently a part-time student studying travel and tourism at Newham College in East Ham.
I’ve always loved the idea of helping people explore the world, and working in a travel agency feels like something I’m meant to do.
Studying hasn’t always been easy, though. I was born with a rare condition called Kabuki syndrome, which affects my muscles and motor skills.
During my first year of university, I was also diagnosed with dyspraxia which makes me a bit clumsy and sometimes causes me to muddle my words.
But understanding those diagnoses has actually been empowering as they gave me clarity about some of the struggles I’ve faced in education and life in general and helped me find ways to navigate them.
Alongside my studies, I lived with my parents, which brought its own kind of comfort and familiarity and I built a solid group of friends through my studies.
The loneliness really began after university as after graduation, everything changed. I wasn’t prepared for how difficult it would be to maintain friendships and how easy it is to lose touch with people. People moved on, got busy with their own lives, or just drifted away.
Those I have stayed connected to, it’s often now just through social media. When we do eventually get round to planning things in-person, there are always delays – people who can’t make certain dates, issues that come up and then before you know it, you haven’t seen them for months, sometimes years.
Making new friends was also a lot easier in school settings – whether it was at college, university, or other structured environments where you can see the same faces regularly.
When you leave education, that goes and making friends became a lot more challenging. The isolation hit hard and London whilst huge and crowded – particularly after the pandemic, started to feel like a lonely place.
I started to feel like I wasn’t part of anything and felt disconnected from the world – like I’m not good enough or not really part of anything. The times when I did try to connect, it felt like no one really wanted to engage which made those feelings worse.
That’s when I realised I needed to do something different to connect again and in looking for opportunities to meet new people back in 2022, I discovered the Great Friendship Project.
Joining the project’s events brought something new into my life and made it easy to find regular opportunities for connection.
What stood out to me most was how easy it was to talk to people there – everyone was warm, welcoming, and genuinely interested in connecting.
It was refreshing to be part of a space where new people were always greeted kindly and made to feel included right away. Even though there are some people who’ve grown closer than others, it never feels cliquey – new faces are always welcomed.
I consider myself a “social introvert.” I enjoy being around people, but my social battery doesn’t always last long. What I appreciate about everyone who attends the project’s events is how understanding and supportive they are – you can engage at your own pace without feeling pressured.
Since joining the project, my circle of friends has expanded, and with that has come a boost in my mental health. There’s something incredibly uplifting about being around people who share that same positive energy and willingness to connect.
Being of the project gave me strategies to handle feelings of loneliness. Now, when I feel isolated, I can reach out to someone for a chat or message in a group chat. Those simple moments of connection make a huge difference.
Sometimes I’ll scroll through photos on my phone – memories of social events, university days, or time spent with family and friends. Looking back on those moments helps remind me of the good times I’ve had and gives me hope for more to come.
More importantly than that, being part of the project reminded me that everyone needs friendship – no matter how big or small their circle is.
The journey hasn’t always been easy, but I’ve learned that it’s okay to take breaks and recharge.
Everyone’s experience with loneliness is different, but what matters most is knowing there’s a community out there ready to welcome you when you’re ready to reach out.
For me, that has made all the difference.
