College parties: Where's my invitation?

Dear Reader,

Being in a new environment requires adjustment for many people, and while many feel excitement and a sense of adventure, feelings of sadness, uncertainty, fear, and disappointment are also normal, if not widespread, during this transition. Even those "party people" are probably grappling with some uncertainties of their own. With so much newness around you compounded by demands from school, meeting new people and getting involved in social activities are great ways to help make the transition easier and more enjoyable. Those “in the know” people you envy have probably done exactly that; perhaps they came to college already knowing other students (for example, maybe their older siblings or high school friends also attend this university) or they joined activities (such as varsity athletics, Greek life, or clubs with an active social life) that helped them meet and befriend upperclassmen early on in their first year. Although there's no surefire way to get "in the know," your conscious effort of going out and meeting new people are great first steps in finding your niche. However, fully settling in (both inside and outside the classroom) usually takes more than just a few weeks, and you’re not failing college if you’re still building and expanding your social network throughout your college career. During this transition, some things to keep in mind are that making new friends takes time, and that the more people you meet, the more likely you are to meet people who share your interests.

First of all, it may be helpful to ask yourself: What kind of friends are you looking to make? If you're looking for activity partners, exploring student groups or intramural sports on campus may be a great place to start. Since these groups revolve around common interests, this could be a prime place to meet people who you relate to and who may open you up to other social spheres. Additional resources you may consider tapping are your Resident Advisor (RA) if you live in university housing or your school's student affairs office (or an equivalent office that runs student groups at your school). These resources might also be listed on your college's website if you're not sure where to find them on campus. It may also be helpful to remember that you don’t necessarily need to become BFFs with every person in order to score those desired social invites. While building close, intimate friendships is a key part of social well-being and thriving at college, they’re not the only relationships out there. A robust social network might include a combination of best friends (the people you lean on heavily for support and advice), friends (the people you enjoy spending time with but who maybe don’t have the same level of trust and intimacy), and friendly acquaintances (those people you see occasionally and have warm but more casual interactions with). Invitations to social events and activities might come from anyone in your social network, so the more people you meet and become friendly with, the more likely you are to receive invitations for various activities you enjoy, including the occasional party.

Another question: What does this "college experience" mean to you? Sometimes first-year college students who are away from home for the first time may feel the need to "reinvent" themselves or leave behind their high school identity. While college is a great time in life to explore, the strongest friendships are those based on common bonds, so don't lose sight of the great qualities you already have. By all means, attend the parties if you enjoy them, but you’re also not failing at having a “college experience” if you decide that you would rather spend your time elsewhere.

College may also offer a great opportunity to learn skills such as time management. A healthy extracurricular life may help balance the stresses of school, but for some people, learning to keep that balance is difficult. Maintaining a schedule for school, work, and play may help ensure that you make time for all of these activities. Try exploring a variety of different social activities and you may find that the party scene is just one of many ways to stay entertained.

Hopefully using some of these tips will help you make new connections, but if you continue to feel unsatisfied or out of the social loop, you might consider talking to a mental health professional who may be able to help you sort through your feelings. Other resources may include a campus ministry, career centers, and even your professors or peers who may have personal experiences similar to yours. The bottom line is that meaningful friendships don't materialize overnight. Your friendships at home took time to develop, as will the new ones you make at college. Sticking your neck out, as scary as it may seem, may be the best way to get the ball rolling. Your enthusiasm and openness to meeting new people is a great characteristic, so remain confident and you might be surprised how things fall into place.