I was a sophomore in college, and it was my first time going to New York City — but in more ways than one, it was not at all the first time I’d planned for.

I thought I would be enjoying a long romantic weekend with my boyfriend. I go to school upstate, and they give us a mini-break in mid-February. It would have been perfect timing for Valentine’s Day, but go figure: I got dumped; or technically, I dumped him after discovering he was hooking up with someone else.

Even though I felt like locking myself in my room and crying all weekend, I had already paid for my bus ticket and found a great luxury hotel deal, so with my friends’ encouragement, I opted to go solo. I had no idea what was in store for me as I wheeled my suitcase into the opulent lobby. A tall blonde girl who couldn’t... Read More