About a year ago, as a college freshman at Cornell, I was required to make a short video project for my course. I focused on my disappointment with the early weeks of college: How I couldn't have a deep conversation with others, how I couldn't seem to enjoy parties, feel comfortable on campus or just meet people who I want.... I felt so lost and the worst part was that I felt as if I were the only one who was this lonely.
I tried every effort, but in vain. Then I poured my loneliness into this four-minute film I made called "My College Transition" I posted it on YouTube, expecting only my professor and a couple of friends to see it. It now has over 274,000 views and hundreds of comments. I had viewers from all over the country reach out to me and express their experiences, thanking me for making them feel less alone. It proved that I wasn't alone in my experience. It also showed how necessary it was for people to be open about loneliness on college campuses.
Now in my second college year, I see how foolish my expectations were for my first year. Expecting close relationships like ones that had taken years to develop was unfair to myself and the people around me. Going to college is a huge change - so many students left the familiar comforts of their homes and were pushed into a completely new place. It was unrealistic for me to expect a perfect transition.
I slowly learned in which groups I felt welcome and included from my social life. It was hard! But by putting myself out there, I found so many communities on campus to invest myself in, and where I knew I would be happily received.
