Not having a fantastic time at college? Many share your feelings.
Robert Medhurst passed the majority of his first week at university browsing through online platforms, reading posts about other students' fun nights out.
"I remained in my room," Robert recalls, describing the week as the most isolated period of his life.
His housemates didn't go out much, and his program didn't seem especially friendly.
Despite putting himself out there by attending trial events for various societies, he couldn't find his people.
"I gradually lost my self-assurance," he says. "I believed others weren't interested to form friendships with me, or they didn't like me."
Social Media Comparisons
At first, Robert didn't plan of attending college and had a job offer for post-secondary education.
Yet he saw his friends enjoying themselves as university attendees on social media.
"When you need to wake up for your job during the week at 9:00 and you notice others went out on midweek, you do start thinking others have it better," Robert explains.
Higher Education Assumptions
TV shows and social media can glorify the idea of university living.
Numerous students come to university with high expectations for what they imagine could be the most wonderful time of their lives.
Various learners begin their studies with "idealistic views," explains a support services coordinator.
Research Results
- Through surveys of first-year attendees early on, the primary worry was fitting in and being accepted
- Additional research conducted by analysts, a significant minority said they were without companions at university
- Over one-third reported they worried daily or weekly about forming friendships
Personal Experiences
Another student's online videos was filled with content of girls having fun while sharing accommodation in college residences.
However when she transferred from her previous location to campus to study journalism, she found orientation period "daunting" because of the substance involvement it involved.
She abstains from alcohol and had never been clubbing before.
"I actually passed a lot of freshers' week inside my accommodation," she says. "I simply experienced somewhat isolated."
Psychological Aspects
Through current studies of numerous undergraduate students, 29% said they thought about leaving university.
The primary factor was psychological wellbeing, succeeded by economic considerations.
"Anxiety about all of these different things is extremely prevalent, and expected," notes a support specialist.
Discovering Answers
Eventually, all three individuals eventually adapted and developed friendships.
She built connections through her course and using online platforms, while Christina felt happier after being able to share accommodation with peers.
Helpful Recommendations
For Robert, currently in his mid-twenties and in his last year, it was joining his university's drama society and working occasionally that assisted in relationship building.
Robert's advice to new attendees experiencing connection challenges is to simply leave your accommodation and go to club and society taster events.
"Subsequent to periods of consistently showing up, people recognise your face," he explains, "you recognise theirs, and you start making friends."
