social life anxiety

Parent Cafe
21

<p>I felt some of that pressure my freshman year. To “party”, to be social, to live up to the image that I felt that I was. I’m extroverted, I’m social, I’m “fun” and I’m known for being energetic, lively, and funny. So I felt the need to match that mold---- to go to the party, to stay out till 4, to seem like I was the type always having fun. </p>

<p>But this year as a sophomore, I don’t feel that pressure at all anymore and in general, people are a lot less afraid to say “yeah, I’m too tired to go out tonight.” Some nights and some weekends I still go to parties and I still hang out with friends until 4 or 5 in the morning. But maybe I’ll do that on a Saturday and then stay in on a Friday night and do homework. etc. I socialize as much as I feel I need to in order to stay happy…but that’s more of a spur of the moment decision, rather than a plan. If I want to spend both my weekend nights sleeping…I will. And in general, that’s the sentiment of sophomores and up.</p>

22

<p>It sounds like you are fairly content with yourself except for the perception of what a college student should be. Most people see college as Animal House or St. Elmos Fire because they are entertaining. These are the extreme examples of the other end of the spectrum and it seems most students are somewhere in the middle. It really appears that you have a good balance of activities and friends especially this early in your Freshman year. Life, including college, should be about being yourself and learning every day and not how many social engagements you have.</p>