Building a Community While in College
Having a community and feeling like you are a part of something greater than yourself is powerful. You may be living far away from your family (especially during college), but you may also have a community around you that makes you feel like you belong. The importance of having a community is not a new concept. There is a field of psychology called community psychology which studies the relationships between individuals and their communities, their quality of life, and the role communities have at an individual and societal level. In this blog I will talk about being a part of a community during my college career and how one can find their community.
In high school I don’t recall ever thinking about the benefits of having a community, but looking back, I had my own little communities without having realized it. I took advanced placement (AP) classes in high school with peers who were also my friends, I was on the tennis team for four years and built friendships with my teammates, and I was a member of my high schools’ Interact Club (a club associated with Rotary Club). I was surrounded by friends in each of the activities I was a part of! The lack of friends I would have when starting college at San Diego State University (SDSU) terrified me. I had no idea how I would make friends let alone, build any sort of community.
Luckily like most universities, SDSU had different residential communities for incoming freshmen to select from. Not everyone chose to be a part of one, but I figured I would select to live in the Men Engaging in Technology and Science (METS) and Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) community. Initially, I was a bit concerned that everyone there would be smarter (or fulfill the stereotype of being socially awkward), but the first day I moved in I realized that these other students were really cool. Of course we were all nervous and wanted to befriend one another, but with time we built a little community amongst ourselves. Most of us had the same prerequisites, so we would see each other in class, study together, and live together. The friends I had there felt like my little San Diego family. Having such a positive living experience helped me feel like I belonged instantly and some of those friends are now lifelong friends (even if we don’t talk as often because we no longer live on the same floor).
However, some people either aren’t as lucky with their living experience during their freshman year or they have transferred to a new university and have to look a little harder to find their people. That is okay! College is truly a special place where there are MANY communities waiting for you to discover them. Here are a few ways to do so:
Join a residential community if it’s offered at your university.
Check out the club fair at your university. You might be surprised by some of the clubs that already exist, and if a club you’re interested in doesn’t then create it!
Take an exercise class and meet people who also want to learn or continue doing that activity. For example, I took a beginners yoga class and met some cool people and learned about my university’s yoga club.
SDSU has a program called Aztec Adventure, which allows students to go on an outdoor adventure, usually to a national park, and find other like-minded people who appreciate nature just like you. Look and see if your university offers something similar to connect you with your peers!
If you don’t know anyone in a class of yours, sit next to someone who you feel seems nice (or sit wherever there is room) and talk to that person. It’s great to build a connection with at least one person in each of your classes. You can help one another study, or just have a buddy for that class. Pro tip: if the class you are taking is notoriously hard, find a study group to join or create one! This will most likely help you succeed in the class. Discussion sections or labs are a great way to meet 30 students taking that same class rather than feeling overwhelmed with the other 300 students in the main lecture.
Join a research lab. This is a GREAT way to start building your science community.
Find platforms that help you feel more connected to your passions. This is one goal of Rooted in STEM. Hopefully reading our content helps you feel less alone as you tackle college.
If Greek life appeals to you, check out the chapters available at your university and rush. Lots of students say they built strong connections within their fraternity or sorority.
Of course during the age of COVID-19 the college experience at your university has most likely changed a bit, but I truly believe that you can form a sense of community even if it’s a virtual one while classes are online. You can start a big GroupMe chat and bond with your classmates (sending memes is an easy way to break the ice and get a fun thread going). You should also utilize office hours that your professors offer and meet other students who are taking the course seriously and exchange contact information to later study together via zoom. As you study together you might find similarities and become friends.
There are many different ways to meet new people and to begin building your own community during college. Once you are more connected, you will experience a sense of security within your community and you will be able to be your most authentic self. Having a sense of belonging can help increase your confidence, which I believe is so beneficial during the transformative years during college. Therefore, step out of your comfort zone and allow yourself to be vulnerable. You will soon find new friends to connect with that will allow you to feel more connected to your community.
