Building a New Community

Some of you may be leaving your hometown for the first time or going further away from home than you have in the past. Leaving a town where you spent your formative years is difficult enough on its own, but you’re also leaving to start college. You’re going through a lot of changes, and it is okay to feel overwhelmed because it’s common.

Just because you’re moving doesn’t mean you have to forgo the feeling of community and connection you have thrived on for years before. Going to college presents the opportunity to expand your community of friends, peers, and support.

Of course, there are common places where you will interact with another student, your classes. While it might seem awkward and intimidating initially, I recommend sitting next to people you don’t know in your classes. Be present in any conversations that start between them because this is a way to start building relationships with your peers and forming a community away from home.

After the first few weeks of the semester, informally known as syllabus week, you might start to notice more advertising for student organizations and large organization fairs. These events are another great opportunity to join a community based on common interests and goals. You can even join a club for an activity that you’ve never engaged in but are interested in the options are almost limitless. However, don’t fall into the trap of signing up for more than you and your complete schedule can reasonably handle- remember that you still have to go to classes, sleep, study, eat, socialize, etc. The rule of thumb is to find one or two commitments that you feel like you can’t be satisfied without and then stick with them for as long as you continue to enjoy and benefit from them.

If you discover that you’re not coping with the transition well and you start to feel lonely and excluded- it’s okay to reach out for support from counselors. If you don’t have access to a counselor or therapist, you can research options provided by your college. It’s common for a college to have a CAPS department: Counseling and Psychological Services, or something with a related name. They typically offer free resources, but it might be difficult to schedule regular appointments with counselors due to the high demand and caseloads per counselor.

Finally, just because you’re moving away from home and your friends may be going to different colleges, doesn’t mean that you have lost the connections and access to your loved ones. The benefit of quality telecommunications is the ability to connect with anyone at any time. Take the initiative to schedule time to virtually bond with your friends and family as often as your schedules permit. You’re making new friends, connections, and experiences, but you’ll always have the support of your core family and friends.