A lot of friends at college, but no friends at home

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>I am a college sophomore, and there is a good chance I am returning to my hometown this summer due to an internship offer I cannot refuse. In all honestly, I try to avoid going home for breaks due to the amount of boredom I experience there. I am extremely close to my family, but I do not have a single friend back at home. As a result, I spend most of my time stuck in my house like a hermit crab watching TV and playing video games. I also do not have my drivers license and it is too far to walk anywhere. I honestly go three to four days at a time without ever going outside. This led me to an extremely deep depression and made me have suicidal thoughts last time I was home. I am extremely happy when I am away at college, and I hate having this dark cloud follow me around when I go home on breaks and feeling like I am going insane.</p>

<p>I don't have a lot of friends due to depression in high school that made me kind of shut off the whole world. (I have been going to counseling for social anxiety so I have friends in college and do not feel depressed at college). But this is why when I go back home for breaks I don't have any friends to call. Basically, I wish I could just start over, revamp my social life, and find a new group of friends to spend my summer with. </p>

<p>My summer internship would be full-time, eight hours a day five days a week. I am working on getting my drivers license so I will be able to at least get around this summer. But it is difficult because driving lessons are $60 an hour in my collegetown, and I am estimating I will need at least 12 lessons which is $720, very hard considering I only make about $260 a month at my job after bills, but nevertheless I am trying to get my license before I get home this summer. (My parents will not help me learn or take me to my road test, so I have to do it before I get back)</p>

<p>I have all of my fingers crossed that there will be students my age at my internship program and we will all bond in some way. But I have a feeling I am the only one they hired. I am also hoping that at least having my drivers license will also help with getting out of the house more. But what would you suggest for actually making friends? I was thinking about joining some kind of volunteer program but am worried it would be mostly high school students. That is the only thing I can think of. What would you do if you were in my situation?</p>

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<p>First off, with a full-time internship, that will be taking up most of your day wich will keep you busy, out of the house, and happy (assuming you enjoy your career field). </p>

<p>I would suggest trying and making friends at home too though. A friend of mine went through a similar experience that you had in high school, but now that she has gone to therapy and has recovered, she has become friends with several people she knew of in high school and regularly communicates with them, even while at college.</p>

<p>I’m not sure where you’re from, but going to outings in which you enjoy should help keep you busy and make friends as well. Bonding over a similar interest is a great conversation starter! </p>

<p>And lastely, having your lisence should help a lot. I wasn’t a super social person until I got mine, but now I enjoy getting out of the house much more, even if it’s going to get coffee or just for a drive.</p>

<p>Good luck with everything though :)</p>

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<p>you should probably be more proactive and get back in touch with some of your friends from high school, because i’m guessing that some of your friends are also looking for something to do and people to hang out with, too. i know my friends and i are always looking for extra people to hang out with us during the summers.</p>

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<p>You are on the right track with your positive thoughts and plans. And congratulations on going to counseling.
If you don’t yet have a license this summer, take lessons in your hometown, get the license, and get out to places. A place to go will be a volunteer program, where you will find many adults. And after a session, ask everyone if they want to hang out at Starbucks. Another place to go is bowling, or the movies, or the park. You might be alone for those, but you will be out, which will make you feel better.</p>

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<p>You have changed since high school. Your high school classmates also have matured. Go hang out at a place you are likely to run in to people your age…surf the web on your laptop at Starbucks or another local coffee shop, go with your mom for an ice cream cone (it’s not high school any more, being seen with your parents in public is no longer uncool)…you might find that your old high school class mates are not so bad.</p>

<p>or spend some weekend hours volunteering at an animal shelter or political office…people of all ages have those interests.</p>