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Navigating Social Life and Belonging

by Betsy Chapman

As the initial excitement of the semester settles, many first-year students begin to worry heavily about their social circles. It is incredibly common for students to feel lonely or falsely assume that everyone else has already found a permanent friend group. (They haven’t.)

Here is how you can support your student as they build their campus community:

  • Normalize the adjustment: Remind your student that forming deep, meaningful friendships takes time and continuous effort – at least a whole semester, if not a year. The polished social media posts they see from peers often mask true feelings of vulnerability.

  • Encourage inclusive behavior: Suggest that your student look out for others who might be sitting alone in dining halls or looking for a seat in class. Inviting someone to grab coffee is a simple way to break the ice.

  • Engage with Faculty Fellows: Encourage your student to attend residence hall events hosted by Faculty Fellows (see the Fellows for each building). These gatherings are easy, low-pressure environments to meet students from different floors and backgrounds.

It is completely natural to feel a little homesick or disconnected right now. Finding a true sense of home takes time, and we are right here to walk alongside your student until they find their perfect niche.

Contact

To contact the Office of Family Engagement or Family Communications, please visit our contact page.

For mental health assistance: 336-758-CARE (2273) is a service that ensures someone will always be available (i.e., 24/7 M-F, weekends and university holidays) to provide caring and thoughtful consultation services for Wake Forest students in need of mental health assistance or support. You can also visit we.wfu.edu for resources.