Being new on campus can be isolating, possibly hundreds of miles away from the nearest person you know, every face can seem frightening; overwhelmed by thousands of new people, and not feeling like you fit in with any of them.
Loneliness has become an issue among college students nationwide, and US Surgeon General Vivek Hallegere Murthy has started touring colleges to spread awareness on this rising issue.
“I heard a lot of stories that you might expect: people who were concerned about the addiction crisis in their community. Folks who were worried about rising rates of depression and anxiety that they were seeing among young people,” Hallegere Murthy said, as reported by Inside Higher Education. “But I also started to hear these stories about loneliness. I heard from young students who were on college campuses who would say, ‘I’m surrounded by hundreds of other kids here, but I don’t know; I feel like nobody really knows me for who I am. I feel like I can’t be myself.’”
To combat rising student loneliness we compiled some friendly faces found around campus and their tips for those on how to connect across campus:
Austin Houk
Black Kettle RA & Student Athlete
“This is my second year here at SWOSU. I’m a student-athlete on the football team and first year as Resident Advisor. I’m pretty involved on campus, a lot of campus ministries like Chi Alpha, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and stuff like that. I really enjoy talking to people and spending time with my friends.”
Finding Houk isn’t hard, you can find him working the RA booth at Black Kettle and running downfield on Saturday nights. Out of high school, Houk was pursued by multiple schools but something about SWOSU stuck out to him.
“I was pretty highly recruited out of high school, 12 offers,” Houk said. “I came here under our previous coach, Ruzell McCoy, he came to my high school, and the coaches came to watch my games. They really showed me that they care. They showed me that SWOSU is a community, regardless of football, they genuinely care for me.”
His advice to freshmen looking for clubs and cliques is to just be you.
“Be yourself and get out there,” Houk said. “SWOSU is big enough that you will find people who have the same opinions, same values as you, and I think it’s also important to meet people who don’t believe the same as you and have the same values. We’re growing ourselves as individuals, and we’re growing what we know. I challenge you to meet people. Meet lots of people. You’ll find people that you like and you’ll find people that you’re not sure about, but I challenge you to just go into an open mind.”
His last piece of wisdom to the incoming class, he wants the world to hear.
“It’s pretty well known in the world today that there is so much division and hate, and regardless of your religion or political views or anything like that, I think it’s so important just to have a conversation and value people’s opinion, even if you don’t agree with it, Houk said. “I think it’s super important just to go in there with an open mind, talk to people, and just show people you care, because there’s enough division and hate in this world, and there’s no reason for it, because people are so quick to argue, if you listen a lot of things can be solved in this world.”
Addison Schmidt
Wellness Center Worker, Beanery Barista,
& Cheerleader
“I am a full-time student here with 17 hours this semester, and I work two jobs. I cheer here and I love going to church.”
Schmidt keeps busy on campus with cheer, working at the Beanery and working the front desk at the wellness center, but she always makes time for campus ministries.
“I go to the BCM very frequently,” Schmidt said. “It’s not specifically connected to a single church, but we just gather at different events. Monday night we have Forge, which is just a worship night. Tuesdays are freshman family. That’s one thing that I would encourage them [freshmen] to go to. It’s tons of fun, and you get to know a lot of new people..”
Schmidt’s advice to freshmen comes from her own experience on campus.
“Take every opportunity you can, but also make sure that they’re focusing on themselves,” Schmidt said. “Finding a job is a great way to do that, because everyone cares about you, and what your goal is, and they know that your main priority is school.”
Corbett Woods
Legacy & Library Worker
“I’m from Sayre, Oklahoma, I’m a sophomore in science education, and I want to teach more high school science, maybe teach college after that.”
You’ll find Woods behind the library desk with a book in his hands. Finding comfort in the tranquility of the library, but his reason for joining the department is much more sentimental.
“My dad worked here when he went to college, and I thought it would be cool if I worked here too,” Woods said.
Woods tries to meet new people in his daily routine and implores students looking for a connection to do so as well.
“Connect!” Woods said. “Don’t worry about anyone judging you, everybody is here doing the same thing you are. Go to the fairs. Meet people. I like to meet people at the grill when I go for lunch, do that.”
Academically Woods recommends doing the basics to thrive in any class.
“Study. I personally like doing note cards,” Woods said. “Go to classes, just attending and showing up. If you just show up and engage with others, you’ll be fine.”
