Why Those Awkward Ice Breakers Might Just Be Worth The Stress: the importance of connecting with others at university

Written By Eliza Wright

I think we’ve all been there… It's your first day at university after a long summer break. You finally find your seat and the class begins. 

“Let’s get to know each other a little better!”, the teacher announces.

Instant dread rushes over all of us as we rattle our brains trying to remember what we got up to over the holidays or what animal best represents us. 

Not only have Covid-19 lockdowns and remote education posed a significant threat to our learning, but they have also limited our ability to connect with others and immerse ourselves in university culture. This socialisation with others might be daunting at first, but is vital to your personal growth and overall academic performance, especially given the isolation we have all grown accustomed to. 

A Problem Shared Is a Problem Halved 

There’s no denying that university is full of highs and lows. From confusing campuses to the relief felt after clicking “Submit Assignment,” university really is a rollercoaster of emotions.

Connecting with others will help you work through all the above and best of all, these friends understand the struggles you encounter because they’re facing them too. Support through the bad (and good) times helps reduce stress and make these challenges a little less intimidating. Not to mention, makes those fun moments even more sweet.

As the Swedish Proverb goes, “shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half sorrow”. While this may not be applicable when assembling Ikea furniture (proceed at your own risk), it most definitely rings true when venturing through the university jungle.

Don't get me wrong, I know putting yourself out there and chatting to new people can make you feel really vulnerable. Using the idea of common humanity and remembering that just like you, each student in the room also wants to make friends and also feel nervous about stepping out of their comfort zone can put into perspective the nerves you're feeling. And honestly, day to day life is simply more fun with friends. 

Building Blocks of Your Identity 

During this important time, we are all learning what truly inspires us and where our passions lie.  Finding your purpose whether at university or anywhere in the world, can be nerve-wracking, but you don't have to do it alone. Social groups play a vital role in our sense of connectedness and confidence that help us to navigate the world and understand who we are.

Friends introduce us to new experiences and push us out of our comfort zone that build our sense of character. Without these experiences and connections, you may never test your limits and uncover what you are capable of. All of these uncover our sense of self and overall attitude towards life.  

Strength Lies in Differences

Today's society consists of people from all walks of life, most of those whom you are unlikely to have previously connected with during your high school years. This includes different age groups, ethnic backgrounds and genders. Diversity also extends to students from other disciplines or those who have different learning and working styles to you.

Your friend who's majoring in philosophy can offer a new and different point of view on problem solving that your engineering friend may not have thought of before.  Chatting to individuals different from yourself can broaden your outlook on the world, provide a new perspective for your essay topics and help you think more creatively and critically. The ability to work within and manage diverse groups of people is a valuable skill that many employers look for when recruiting, not to mention it betters your leadership and interpersonal skills. As a result, connecting with those you may not have been familiar with can enhance your employability. 

(Have a listen to Stephen Covey’s talk about the importance of diversity, it’s only 8 mins!)

While you may not want to tell your cohort that you enrolled in this class because it looked easy or guess whether James sitting across from you really did a nude bungee jump in New Zealand during two truths one lie, remember the next time you introduce yourself to someone, you may just be meeting your newest support crew.

That is why it is CampusLife’s mission to help students like us build a strong community, sense of belonging and lifelong friendships. To do so, CampusLife is hosting a network and drinks night, at Richmond’s Aviary Hotel, purchase your $10 ticket to receive some 2 x drinks + food and mingle the night away with like-minded people. 

This event welcomes all business students from all universities. We can't wait to see you there!