So I wasn’t sure what was going to happen as a Freshman, and I was filled with anticipation. Even though my fall semester had started out well, by the end of it I was wondering if I wanted to stay. I worked really hard and joined a lot of clubs to try and combat the feeling of loneliness, just like every advice article said to do. To this day, I’m an officer in more than one club, and am a member of many. I attend meetings as much as I can and try to participate. I volunteer and event plan and run tech for shows. I have worked hard fostering friendships and reaching out to people. When they say it gets better, I can agree that it does. I have more acquaintances and a few closer friends than I did Freshman year, and I found a dorm I vibe with. I talk to more people during the day and plan trips with family. But I also feel like everyone always has someone they like more, like I missed the best friend/friend group train back in fall Freshman year and was never able to get on. Even now as a Sophomore, my Freshman friends can’t attend something with me often because they’re going with their best friends. My older friends have the same reason, or otherwise are too busy. It’s become hard to not feel like I’m desperate or a third wheel even when I try hard to reach out. It starts to feel like no one is free, or no one will reach out to me. I kind of want to make a point that effort doesn’t always bring you what you wished for. But I also know no one owes me anything, and it isn’t as if I should stop trying. There isn’t anyone to blame. I’m just afraid that it won’t get much better and I’ll graduate feeling like this. I wanted other lonely upperclassmen to know they’re not the only ones. Does anyone have advice or words of wisdom we haven’t already heard?