Lonely no more

The need to form social connections is deeply rooted in the human psyche. It is secondary only to physical and safety needs. We all need to feel a sense of belonging; it is part of what it means to be human. Young adults especially need to feel connected to a group to belong to the human family.\nFeeling alone or out of place causes a great deal of stress. Student's personal fulfillment often depends on relationships that give their lives purpose and meaning. Healthy relationships help students with personal growth and produce a sense of purpose in their lives.\nIU is a very big school. Its size alone creates challenges to fit in, and one must work to prevent a feeling of loneliness and isolation. Students arriving at IU can be easily overwhelmed by a variety of factors. Large class sizes, lack of a set social structure, the geography of the campus, being far from family, and not knowing what services are available or who to turn to for help can all contribute to high stress levels.\nMethods of overcoming these stresses vary. In large classes it is important to find another student or groups of students to study with or get assistance from. It is also important to talk with the professors during office hours or ask teaching assistants for help. Finding students who live in your dorm or housing area helps, as making friends in your geographic or housing location can provide much-needed support.\nJoining groups that share your interests is another great way to meet and make friends. You can join the greek system or a service group that contributes to society. You can choose to connect with a political party or student organization that shares your values or ideology. Joining a house of worship is another way to meet people who think and feel similarly. Finding your "niche" is very important.\nAnother place to meet people is through athletic activities such as group or intramural sports. Athletics are a great common denominator to make friends who share a common interest. Buying season tickets to sporting events with your friends is another good way to socialize. \nSpending time with peers by attending musical events, movies, opera, theater, museums and restaurants are all good ways to enhance relationships and overcome stress. Something that works well is initiating an event with someone you think you might enjoy spending more time with and getting to know better.\nStudents who come from another country might feel like strangers in a strange land. They can join international groups on campus with students who share their country of origin and language.\nAttending a university is all about growing and this means finding a balance between friends and family. But students are on campus with only their peers. This means they will find themselves disengaging from family. Maintaining ties with family is important, and regular phone calls, e-mails, text messages and letters are comforting ways to keep in touch.