There's someone for everyone! College is an exciting and daunting time for young adults. For many, college allows them to explore independence and understand themselves before they venture into the adult world. During this time, you’ll be exposed to many new things and quickly learn that not everyone was raised like you were. This can be a good thing because not only does it prepare you for the diversity in the world, but it also teaches you new perspectives and provides you with unexpected opportunities. That being said, one of these opportunities is being social with new people. For many first time or transfer college students, it can be difficult to put yourself out there and find friends you mesh well with. This is actually so common, but people are good at pretending like they've got it all figured out so you may feel like you’re the only one dealing with these issues.  Everyone’s level of being social is different, but overall it’s important to not do college as if you're alone on an island. It's important to be proactive in college so you create memories and build connections with others. Dealing with FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) FOMO is inevitable, but the reality of college is accepting that you can’t be involved with everything. Don’t let this discourage you though! Try your best to be present and accept invites that interest you instead of constantly declining offers. For example, colleges have events for students (especially new students) to acquaint students with each other and the school overall. This is a great way to find organizations to join! And sometimes you’ll discover unique programs that fit your niches. Or if someone invites you out and you feel comfortable going with them, you should go to see how things turn out. As you’re exploring, it’s important to be involved with people and things that truly inspire you and make you feel most like yourself. Not only does being present help you form social bonds, but you never know the professional opportunities that could arise when you associate yourself with new people and places. Making Friends I guarantee you that there’ll be people you begin college with that you may never talk to again by the time senior year rolls around. That being said, in life friendships are always changing. Some people are meant to be lifelong friends while others are there for a moment. As you get older, you may find your circle shrinking because there are less people you feel genuinely connected with. And that’s 100% okay! With each friendship, there will be a lesson, some positive and some negative. Some friendships teach you the type of people you don’t want to be around. Some may only be in your life briefly, but they leave a  worthwhile impression. It’s okay to not have a designated friend group or best friend (my closest friends happen to be miles away from me--one on the other side of the world!). It’s more fulfilling to have a few people you can call a friend than to have several “friends” that are like strangers.  Community In my opinion, a community can be found anywhere you choose to find it! Your sense of community doesn’t have to be limited to your campus. Instead of putting yourself in a box, try finding communities based on hobbies, niches, volunteer work, religion/philosophy, sports/fitness, and the list goes on! When you associate yourself with diverse people, you not only gain new knowledge but confidence in your social abilities. I’ve found some cool people and close friends online through language learning when COVID began. I even met one of my closest friends! I have to say that stepping out of my comfort zone was the best decision for me. So what is your level of being social? Are you the type that thrives in large groups or one that prefers one on one conversations? Do you make online friends as well? Are you considering trying something mentioned in this paper? When you open yourself to new opportunities, you’ll see that college has so much to offer when it comes to making friends and connections. It’s up to you to be proactive! WRITTEN BY Ozioma Osanu My name’s Ozioma, which means “Good News” so if you meet me, expect a welcoming experience! Despite mainly being a homebody, you’ll find me always doing something creative. Whether it’s art, language learning, or roller skating, I love challenging myself creatively. Along with those, I love meeting new people and traveling as well. I’m currently studying business information systems and plan to go into UX design in the future! ... View more

Make connections that last!   The best part of college-- beyond the education-- is the friends and peers you meet throughout your higher education journey. Frequently cited as the best four years of your life, college is the time for people to explore and learn what types of friends and energies they want to be around. Between dorm buildings, weekend parties, and lecture classes, most college students are around people constantly-- but with the effects of the pandemic and remote work, many students and post-grads have found themselves back in their childhood bedrooms or parents’ basement, and have lost that constant socialization. Now miles apart from college and the friends that come with it, it’s hard to be a post-grad who still yearns for a social life, especially when senior year didn’t feel real. So now that you find yourself without frat parties to go to and late night club meetings, how do you survive post-grad? Although the world is starting to open up after a year and a half of lockdown, there are still restrictions in place and personal preferences when it comes to stepping out into the world. So while the obvious bars and restaurants are great meeting places for young 20-somethings, it is important to understand that technology is not the enemy. In fact, technology should be your best friend, or at least the outlet to connecting with your best friends in a more exciting way than Zoom calls (though those can be fun with the right attitude). The best place to start is with the original things that brought you and your friends together in the first place, whether it be movies, lifestyle habits, major interests, or the great taste of coffee, it is important to go back to the basics-- not only to remind people why they became friends, but to also reestablish the relationships outside of the college setting. From there, it is easy to connect even if it’s not face-to-face. Seeking something more immediate? All you need is a computer or phone. Calling and texting is one thing, and FaceTime has truly changed the game, but what more can friends do to be social from their childhood homes or wherever post-grad has taken them? Many streaming services have started “Party” programs where through a shareable link and browser extension, a group of users can watch and control the show or movie from their separate computers-- most offer a side-by-side chat feature as well so you and your friends can react in time with one another. Technology can be so great, but it is also good to look at options outside of a WiFi connection. A recent trend that has risen to popularity on TikTok and other social media apps, is the resurrection of snail mail. There is nothing better than receiving a piece of mail, and again, while it may not be face-to-face, there is an intimacy in seeing the handwriting of someone you cherish and knowing that they took the time to sit down and write to you. It signals that you were on their mind and texting everyday just wasn’t enough. Want to take it a step further? Share a journal within your friend group. Even more personal than letters, keep a journal for a week, write all your thoughts in it, draw in it, collage it-- and then ship it on to another friend. Create a schedule, rotate through until the journal is full. It makes the miles between disappear every time the journal arrives in your hands. It’s been a wild year and for many of us, it was our friends and family that kept us sane. Due to many Americans having access to vaccinations, it is easier to once again interact with society. Still, it is important to keep these relationships in our life that fulfill and support us. It may not be easy with remote working and the aftermath of post-grad, but there are definitely still fun ways to maintain a social life in the midst of this life change. WRITTEN BY Clarah Grossman Emerson College Clarah Grossman currently works as a Media Editorial Intern for Macmillan Learning. She just graduated with a BFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College. Now that she has all this spare time, she hopes to finally learn to play the ukulele (but will probably just end up watching lots of anime). ... View more