đź”— Share this article Not having the time of your life at university? You're not alone. Two students describe their stories of college living. Robert Medhurst used up much of his first week at university browsing through social media, seeing content about fellow students partying. "I stayed indoors," Robert recalls, describing the week as the loneliest time of his life. The people he lived with seldom socialized, and his program didn't seem very sociable. Despite putting himself out there by going to taster sessions for different clubs, he couldn't find people he connected with. "I gradually lost my self-assurance," he says. "I believed others weren't interested to be friends with me, or they weren't fond of me." Digital Platform Contrasts Originally, Robert didn't plan of attending college and was offered positions for post-secondary education. However he saw his friends enjoying themselves as college students online. "When you've got to get up for employment on weekdays at nine in the morning and you observe peers partied on Wednesday night, you start feeling situations appear superior," Robert mentions. University Expectations Media content and online platforms can idealize the notion of university living. Many individuals begin university with high expectations for what they think could be the greatest period of their lives. Certain attendees arrive at college with "idealistic views," explains a counselling manager. Study Outcomes Through surveys of first-year attendees early on, the main anxiety was belonging and finding acceptance Additional research by market research agencies, 17% of students said they were without companions at university 37% said they experienced concern frequently about building relationships Personal Journeys Alisha Miah's online videos was filled with content of girls having fun while living together in university housing. Yet when she relocated from her hometown to university to pursue media studies, she found freshers' week "overwhelming" because of how much alcohol it involved. She avoids drinking and had never been clubbing before. "I did spend much of orientation inside my accommodation," she says. "I simply experienced slightly disconnected." Psychological Aspects In a 2025 survey of numerous college learners, nearly one-third reported they thought about leaving university. The main cause was psychological wellbeing, accompanied by economic considerations. "Concern over all of these different things is extremely prevalent, and typical," explains a support specialist. Finding Solutions With time, Robert, Alisha and Christina all found their feet and developed friendships. She formed relationships via her studies and via social media, while Christina felt happier after being able to share accommodation with peers. Helpful Recommendations In his case, currently in his mid-twenties and in his final year, it was joining his university's drama society and getting a part-time job that assisted in relationship building. The suggested approach to first-year students experiencing connection challenges is to simply leave your accommodation and attend organization sample activities. "Following several weeks of continuous participation, individuals become familiar with you," he explains, "you notice their presence, and you start making friends."