A New Perspective on Friendships Right Now
By Catherine Livigni
College is different this year. It’s hard to accept, but it’s true. Classes are online, extracurricular events are cancelled, and campus is generally emptier than usual. To make things even more difficult, our social lives are drastically different this year as well.
Not only are typical public places for social interaction not open anymore—whether it be the dining hall, a coffee shop, or your usual weekend spot—but we are also limited in our social circles. We have to be conscious of who and how many people we are seeing, which means that our social lives are revolving around the same handful of friends right now.
These parameters can perhaps seem stifling sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be that way. I’ve realized since getting back to school that I don’t have to focus on the negatives. It may just take a reevaluation of my social life to realize what it’s missing and what potential it could reach in this new normal.
Discover new places
While it may be frustrating that your typical places for social interaction are closed right now, this could be a blessing in disguise. It’s an opportunity to be adventurous; go out and find a new way to socialize. There are so many outdoor options that many of us haven’t even considered before now. It’s just a matter of going out and finding them. I personally discovered a newfound love for picnics.
Get creative with your plans
I’ve really taken this to heart the past couple weeks, and I’ve surprised myself. I have taken the leap to say yes to plans that I wouldn’t have typically considered “fun” or “worth doing” beforehand, and I have been pleasantly surprised by them. You may discover a new group hobby, which will add some variety and stimulation to your friendships, preventing you from getting bored of both your day-to-day routines and seeing the same people. This could mean coming up with something new, or even finally trying out that thing that you all claimed you would do one day.
Take time to develop your current relationships
Meeting new people is difficult at the moment, so now is the perfect time to focus on your friends. Spending all your time with the same group of people might feel tough at some times, but it also allows for development. I have been trying to take full advantage of those opportunities, especially considering I have not seen my friends for the past five months. Take this time together to focus on deepening and strengthening your close relationships, finding how to spend your quality time, how to communicate better, and maybe even mend certain aspects of your relationships.
While it may seem like the world has turned upside down on your friendships right now, it doesn’t have to be that way. It may take some creativity, but it’s just a new perspective on those relationships. And who knows, sometimes new can be fun.
