Just a short two years ago I was entering Appian Way for the first time as a Keene State College student.
It is a little bit daunting to be in an environment that is so different than what you are used to as a high school student and many struggle to adapt to some of the new responsibility that comes with the change. It is now up to you, and only you, to go to all your classes and build a new social circle, among other things.
One of the best and most reliable ways to meet new people is not actually through class, in my opinion. With the college’s emphasis on lecture-based learning for many classes, it can be difficult to connect in that environment at times.
Do not get me wrong, it is not impossible, but you may find yourself having to bank on getting a good partner for a group project and go from there, which can deliver mixed results.
I do think there can be good communities within a major generally, as you find yourself frequenting the same rooms/buildings as each other which can help with socialization, but again it’s not surefire for making friends.
Something that has a lot more lasting upside and a higher chance of positive social interaction are events and student organizations.
With events, you can go into them knowing that you and a group of other people all came to the same place for the same thing, which creates an environment where you can meet like-minded people.
You are benefitting the campus community too, by showing support for something organized by an academic department, campus office or student organization, which benefits everyone. It gives you a valuable experience and a chance to get out of your dorm for a while and it gives organizers joy that they were able to attract interest from students.
Even events put on by your CA could be a good start for first-year students. So much of the college experience is engaging with your community in these ways and showing you care and want to see more activities to support students like yourself.
I have seen way too many TikToks from first-year students across the country complaining about not knowing anyone or a lack of friends/social life, but again it is up to you to create the change to fix that.
Student organizations also offer a lot of support and opportunities to meet people. Despite being a small campus, I will always give KSC credit for the wide range of student organizations and the amount of interests they cover.
There truly is almost something for everyone here in that aspect, and speaking as someone deeply involved in an organization, I can say nothing makes me happier than seeing first-years come to the meetings.
With people graduating each year and new students coming in, it is critical to maintain a steady stream of folks to ensure any student organization here can operate for years to come and keep these opportunities open.
I can not imagine how my college experience would be without getting involved, and I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunities and people I’ve met through it. There is something about being in a student organization that brings so much value and satisfaction in ways that classes never could.
In summary: join a club, go to an event and most importantly, get out of your dorm!
Nathan Hope can be contacted at
nhope@kscequinox.com
