I want to go home

Hi!
Let me give you some insight before I start: I’m living in a dorm during the corona virus pandemic. My college is super strict. I am not aloud to have anyone in my dorm room. I cant visit other halls to meet new people. Most of my classes are online, which means I can’t create small talk between classes and I can’t meet people that way (which is how people always tell you how they met people). I often feel really isolated because of the lack of opportunities that there are like we didn’t have freshman weekend where all the tables are set up to meet clubs or have get together with all of the freshman to meet people lalala.

What my issue is is that I feel completely alone because of my circumstances. I love my classes, I love studying. I just feel like I’m running out of options of how to meet people and develop relationships when the cards are stacked against me because of Covid restrictions.

People are going to bars and partying but as much as I would like to go, there is still a global pandemic and I don’t want to be around people that don’t care about it.

My college offers full online. I guess my real question is is should I leave and go fully online. I’m really unhappy here but I don’t want to feel like I quit because I wasn’t making friends. I truly feel like I’m running out of options to make friends because I I don’t have the ability to grow relationships because of these restrictions.

Is your college doing any virtual meet ups for clubs? Any activities outside?

It’s a tough tough year to be a freshmen but do some digging on what the school is offering and take advantage of those opportunities.

Also, check to see what happens to your R&B if you go home. I know at my D’s school, there would be no refunds at this point.

Good for you for staying away from the parties and bars. There are definitely some challenges this year; people need to think creatively.

My son is online for the first two weeks. In one of his classes, another kid mentioned his interest in cars. My son immediately PMd him, and they have become friends. Look for a reason to reach out to someone online. Also, are there students playing games outside? My son brought Spike Ball to campus and has made many friends just setting that up. Kids are desperate for things to do outside so I imagine other games like Can Jam or Corn Hole or frisbee would be a great way to do things with other people. Is there any online forum that reaches students on campus, where you could post suggestions, like seeing if anyone is interested in hiking or some other safe, socially distanced activity?

Have your classes started yet? One of the suggestions offered in the online teaching tutorials I attended this summer is for the prof to open up the online room early and encourage the kids to unmute so kids can talk and also use the breakout rooms for this purpose of creating hallway -type talk.

Possibilities for relatively inexpensive, easy outdoor games. My teenagers have played all with friends and enjoyed:

Goodminton: https://smile.amazon.com/VIAHART-Goodminton-Easiest-Outdoor-Year-Round/dp/B00LWDRQ6A/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=goodminton+set&qid=1598708715&sprefix=goodmitt&sr=8-3

Ladder toss:
https://smile.amazon.com/GoSports-Indoor-Outdoor-Carrying-Trackers/dp/B00K8ANYWS/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=outdoor+games&qid=1598708833&sr=8-4

Kadima (paddle ball):
https://smile.amazon.com/Pro-Kadima-Paddle-Replacement-Bundle/dp/B003WZ39DK/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=paddle+ball&qid=1598709047&sr=8-3

They’ve also had a lot of fun with pop-up soccer goals which cost around $40. They are small but it doesn’t matter for easy set-up, low key fun.

Find someone who looks like they aren’t busy and suggest your game of choice . . . Invite bystanders to join. If this is hard (I get it, I’m shy), how about asking your RA to set up a game day for the floor with different options?

Go outside! If you were to park yourself under a tree, I bet people would approach you to talk.