Robert Medhurst spent most of his first week at university looking at online platforms, viewing updates about fellow students partying.
"I was just in bed," Robert recalls, depicting those days as the loneliest time of his life.
Robert's flatmates seldom socialized, and his program didn't seem especially friendly.
Despite putting himself out there by participating in sample activities for different clubs, he was unable to locate people he connected with.
"I started to lose my self-esteem," he says. "I believed people didn't want to form friendships with me, or they didn't like me."
Initially, Robert had no intention of studying at university and had a job offer for post-secondary education.
However he saw his friends enjoying themselves as college students online.
"When you must rise for employment on weekdays at the morning hour and you notice others went out on the previous evening, you start feeling others have it better," Robert explains.
TV shows and digital networks can romanticize the concept of student life.
Many individuals arrive at college with high expectations for what they believe could be the greatest period of their lives.
Certain attendees arrive at college with "idealistic views," says a counselling manager.
Alisha Miah's TikTok feed was filled with content of students enjoying themselves while sharing accommodation in college residences.
Yet when she transferred from London to Sheffield to study journalism, she found freshers' week "daunting" because of how much alcohol it involved.
She avoids drinking and had not experienced nightlife before.
"I actually passed much of orientation inside my accommodation," she says. "I merely sensed slightly disconnected."
Through current studies of numerous college learners, a significant portion mentioned they contemplated leaving university.
The main cause was their mental and emotional health, succeeded by monetary worries.
"Concern over these various aspects is massively common, and typical," notes a mental health professional.
Eventually, Robert, Alisha and Christina gradually adjusted and built connections.
She built connections via her studies and using online platforms, while the individual experienced improvement once she was able to relocate with companions.
In his case, now 24 and in his final year, it was joining his university's drama society and getting a part-time job that helped him make friends.
The suggested approach to beginning learners experiencing connection challenges is to just "get out of your room" and go to club and society taster events.
"Subsequent to periods of consistently showing up, individuals become familiar with you," Robert says, "you become familiar with them, and you start making friends."
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