By Angela Haupt January 21, 2025 9:46 AM EST A s a recent college graduate in a new city, Samantha Elliott thought she'd be lonely. Instead, she found companionship in the most unexpected place: with herself. And that, ironically, helped expand her community. “Being alone has this negative connotation, like it’s a punishment, but you’re learning to be friends with yourself,” says Elliott, who's 24. Over the past few years, she’s gone on solo hikes and to concerts, museums, movies, and dinners