🔗 Share this article Failing to find the time of your life at uni? Many share your feelings. Robert and Christina describe their stories of student life. A student named Robert passed the majority of his first week at university looking at digital networks, viewing updates about fellow students partying. "I stayed indoors," Robert remembers, depicting those days as the most solitary phase of his life. The people he lived with rarely went out, and his studies didn't appear especially friendly. Despite putting himself out there by attending trial events for multiple organizations, he didn't discover his people. "I began losing my self-esteem," he says. "I felt like individuals didn't desire to become my friends, or they weren't fond of me." Social Media Comparisons Originally, Robert wasn't considering of attending college and had a job offer for post-secondary education. Yet he watched his acquaintances living it up as college students online. "When you need to wake up for your job during the week at nine in the morning and you see someone's been out on the previous evening, you do start thinking the grass is greener," Robert says. Higher Education Assumptions Media content and social media can idealize the notion of student life. Lots of people begin university with high expectations for what they think could be the most wonderful time of their lives. Certain attendees come to university with "rose-tinted glasses," explains a mental health professional. Research Results Through surveys of new students initially, students' biggest concern was belonging and feeling included Further studies through polling organizations, 17% of students said they lacked friendships at university 37% said they worried daily or weekly about making friends Personal Experiences Another student's online videos was filled with content of students enjoying themselves while cohabitating in college residences. But when she relocated from her hometown to university to pursue media studies, she found orientation period "daunting" because of how much alcohol it involved. Alisha doesn't drink and had not experienced nightlife before. "I actually passed considerable time initially in my room," she says. "I simply experienced slightly disconnected." Mental Health Considerations Through current studies of numerous undergraduate students, 29% said they contemplated withdrawing from studies. The most common reason was their mental and emotional health, accompanied by financial concerns. "Concern over all of these different things is massively common, and typical," notes a mental health professional. Finding Solutions With time, Robert, Alisha and Christina all found their feet and built connections. She formed relationships during classes and using online platforms, while the individual experienced improvement when she could to share accommodation with peers. Practical Advice Regarding his experience, now 24 and in his last year, it was engaging in performance groups and getting a part-time job that supported social connection. Robert's advice to first-year students finding social interaction difficult is to venture outside your living space and participate in group trial sessions. "Following several weeks of continuous participation, individuals become familiar with you," Robert says, "you notice their presence, and you start making friends."