The first time I stepped onto a college campus was for the UC 海角原创 admitted student celebration, Aggie Day. I felt overwhelmed by the large campus and the huge crowds intensified my anxiety. I was worried I鈥檇 get lost in the chaos of the day.
My day took a turn for the worse when I went to the bookstore and found that all the medium-sized T-shirts were sold out. So, I went to go sift through the jackets on a nearby rack. That鈥檚 when I noticed another student who was doing the same thing as me. We began to chat, bond over our common bad luck and exchanged Instagram handles.
We continued to chat throughout the day and during my long drive back home to Southern California, she asked, 鈥淗ey, are you looking for a roommate?鈥 Thanks to a T-shirt and the convenience of social media, I ended the day feeling less alone.
Read my three tips for how to make connections with the help of social media, before you step on campus.
1. Browse through your new community
One of the reasons I initially chose UC 海角原创 was because of their 鈥 make sure to check that Instagram pages are official before you follow. I strongly sensed that this was a college where I could find community, after I read through other students鈥 bios and looked at their pictures.
The UC 海角原创 Instagram account connected me with many potential classmates prior to my arrival in September. I remember an instance my first year when I saw one of those familiar faces on the way to my first calculus midterm. I was incredibly stressed and this person waved at me. That interaction made my day and was a sign that everything would turn out okay.
2. Check out academic clubs online
I was so nervous before I joined the . Academic clubs have an intimidating reputation: while these students are your friends, they鈥檙e also your competitors. However, my nerves quickly eased after I followed their Instagram account and Discord server.
As I browsed through their posts, I recognized a few familiar faces and some current friends! By the time the first meeting rolled around, I was warmly welcomed by everyone.
Social media serves as a stepping stone to help you cross what seems like an impossible river. Taking that first step to join a club paid off in many ways. I go on fun trips, access internship and research opportunities and make lifelong friends.
3. Connect with your identity
Growing up, I never felt I fully embraced my half-Japanese heritage. Once I got to UC 海角原创, I decided to join the . Again, I felt apprehensive about the first club meeting and feared I wouldn鈥檛 know anyone.
Naturally, I looked them up on social media. I was thrilled to see that the girl I鈥檇 met on Aggie Day was an officer for the club! She provided all the information about the club and even introduced me to her friends.
Connecting through social media made my transition to college feel effortless. I quickly found a supportive community that helped me connect with my identity.
Overcome social anxiety with social media
It doesn鈥檛 need to feel so scary when you want to join a club. There are a host of diverse clubs, organizations and affinity groups on campus that eagerly welcome new members. I used social media as a tool throughout my first year to overcome social anxiety and find my home away from home. You can too!
Erin Aniya is a third-year geology major and sociology minor. She serves as the social media director for the Geology Club and as a public advisor for UC 海角原创 Undergraduate Admissions. In her free time, Erin likes to spend with friends and go on hikes.