Rouxue Li (Rachel)
Staff Writer
Starting college is a journey full of promise and challenges. For incoming freshman students at UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), this transition is often the first step towards independence. In addition to managing academic expectations, incoming students face the daunting task of adjusting to a new social environment. Meeting peers from numerous cultural backgrounds while trying to find their place in the university community may initially be overwhelming. However, despite the uncertainty, the process serves as an opportunity for growth where students can actively search for their own personal community and sense of belonging.
On the UCSB Reddit page, a user named @avaaaaan posted a thread titled, “what is social life like at UCSB? do students have each other’s backs, or is it very cliquey and competitive? please help!” The author of this post expressed concerns about college life and wanted to know what social life was like at the school. This post reflects a common concern among incoming freshmen: uncertainty about social life in college.
For many people, the transition into college is accompanied by anxiety surrounding making friends and finding a sense of belonging in a new environment. While some users said they had made great friends, others revealed the hardships they encountered when trying to make social connections as a new student. One commenter who lived off-campus as a freshman mentioned that they only knew a few of their classmates because they did not have the opportunity to participate in residence hall community activities. Commenters mentioned the difficulty of making meaningful connections in classes after initially meeting people. This lack of connection often leaves students feeling detached from the campus community. Without opportunities for spontaneous interactions outside the classroom, students may gradually feel more isolated.
In an informal survey, students described their Facebook friends as acquaintances they made at school or social events. At Texas A&M University, for example, the survey found that the primary channels for making friends were a co-member of a school organization (26 percent), meeting through another friend (16 percent), attending the same high school (14 percent), and taking a course together (12 percent). Very few friendships were solely online interactions (0.4 percent).
These statistics reveal that there are various methods for students to create friendships or find a sense of belonging in college. These include club activities, course interactions, friend introductions, etc. Despite some initial challenges, UCSB’s rich campus resources provide students with countless opportunities to meet new people.
First and foremost being residence halls, the first step for new students to establish a social presence among their peers. There are frequent events hosted, from Halloween Cookie Decorating to Pajama Parties, all with the intention of the students having an opportunity to have fun and make new friends.
Secondly, there are a variety of club activities, from traditional sports such as soccer and basketball to rock climbing and surfing, etc., where one can find individuals with similar interests and connect. Additionally, there are a plethora of events scheduled that can be found on Shoreline, such as the Environmental Affairs Board Trip to the Pumpkin Patch and the Friendsgiving Hotpot, where students can meet new people while enjoying free, fun social activities.
Finally, in-class collaboration is also an important avenue for students to expand their social networks. For instance, psychology classes require students to work in groups on case studies and experiments. By collaborating as a team, they have the opportunity to build friendships.
In an interview with Coco, a first-year international student from China, it is clear that before arriving at UCSB, she was worried about daily challenges, such as commuting and language barriers. She was also concerned about making friends and finding a sense of belonging in an unfamiliar environment. However, living in a residence hall played a crucial role in helping her settle in.
“My roommate was the first person I met at UCSB,” Coco said. “I can ask her any questions I have, and we work things out together.” In the first few weeks of the school year, she joined the International Student Film Association, where she was able to find a group of friends with similar passions and interests. Additionally, group interactions in the classroom have been an invaluable way for her to meet people. Now, she can proudly say that she has found a sense of belonging at UCSB.
Overall, while starting college may be overwhelming, UCSB provides many opportunities and resources for students to build meaningful connections, ranging from residence hall social events to club activities and in-class group collaborations. By actively participating in these experiences and keeping an open mind, they can gradually adapt to their new surroundings and discover their sense of belonging. Over time, these connections not only help students feel more included, but also provide them with a strong support system to cope with the academic and personal aspects of college life.