College Friends or Family?

“Now I understand why they say the friends you meet in college will be your friends for life”

Sierra Smith

College is a significant experience in life. You go through good times and bad times in college and meet some life long friends.

Imagine moving from a state, unknown to many, to a state that almost everyone is aware of. It is a big difference when you go from being alone, with over 24 hours always to a huge campus pouring with students that takes pride 10x more than your average college student.

Sierra, a 20-year old, comes to the University of Houston all the way from Kansas. She hopes for a better future and to meet new friends.

It was back in 2018 when Sierra arrived to the university. It was her first year being over 12 hours away from home. She began setting up, and unpacking once she got there unaware a few days later she’d meet her one of a kind, lifelong friend.

Meeting friends in college can make or break a student. Having and keeping close friends throughout life is important for emotional health. Going through the first years of college, colleagues face multiple schedule changes, class stress, and sometimes depression. The results showed that friends can help you overcome the tumult of the first few months during college. The provide support and resources and can both encourage and discourage academic achievement.

When looking at achievements and social activities college students who are found to have a less social life and studies more than your average student, has no way to relieve stress, causing it hard to focus and excel in classes.

Sierra met her lifelong friend Nikesha Keith at the student center. She’s used to going through the line and eating alone when suddenly she receives a tap on her shoulder from her colleague.

Nikesha is a 4th year senior who understands how it feels to come into college feeling shy and nervous. She saw Sierra sitting down, she thought she looked lonely and lost, she proceeded to ask if she needed any help finding her classrooms considering it was the first week of school. Sierra accepted the help and in return they exchanged numbers and continued to speak.

Friends are good for your health. According to an article: “FRIENDSHIPS: Enrich your life and improve your health” written by the Mayo Clinic, friends are there to

• Increase your senses of belonging
• Boost your happiness and reduce your stress
• Improve your self confidence and self worth
• Help you cope with traumas.

As soon as Nikesha introduced herself and offered Sierra help, Sierra immediately felt like she finally belonged. She didn’t want to extend her arm out to anyone she potentially thought could be a good friends because she didn’t want to judge incorrectly. She wanted to be accepted and to accept people as they accept her.

Many adults still find it difficult to make friends. A problem faced by colleges now are some students avoid remote learning in fear of missing out on friendship and college experiences… Sierra shares that it’s not about the experience of fun but the experience of growth.

After their first meet up Nikesha and Sierra exchange numbers. They go their separate ways but continued to communicate. This winter break Sierra planned to stay on campus for the holidays. With her not being from the area, Nikesha believed she would be spending the holidays alone.

With rising tuition, insufficient financial aid and the cost of living doubling since the 1980s it is more than a fact that college students are more cash-strapped than ever. More than 56,000 college students identify themselves as poor or homeless according to a 2017 survey taken in March. With that being said, it is becoming more difficult for college students to travel back home or find motivation to go home for the holidays.

Nikesha knew what it felt like being alone and depressed. She didn’t want any of the people she considered friends to experience that either. She extending an invitation to Sierra in hopes she would join her for the holidays. She told Sierra,

“No one deserves to spend Christmas alone, no matter what life situations they’re facing. You’re loved. You’re my friend. You’re family.”

(Left) Many freshmen struggle during final week in thoughts of failing. Statistics show that an average of 42% of freshmen spend an additional 4 hours a night studying. (Middle) Taking breaks every ninety minutes can help improve both focus and attention. Studying with a close friend you trust can make the learning more enjoyable and fill in the gaps to any misunderstandings. (Right) 87% of students said they felt overwhelmed by all they had to do towards the end of the year. Studying alone, especially for a long — periods of time can become monotonous activity — even more if a student finds the subject tedious.

(Left) Students stand to gain a lot by befriending their classmates. These students can discuss ideas for projects, commiserate over mistakes, and celebrate victories and good grades. When you need to talk to someone who gets it, who knows better than someone who attends your school, possibly even a member of your class? (Middle) It doesn’t sound very flowery to talk about friendships in terms of what someone can gain from them. But the very nature of the relationship is reciprocal. While a person is providing you with the support and strength you need, you have — to be providing this back to them in equal amounts. (Right) Students gain life-long friends after experiencing college. Studying with friends and people who check on your well — being stick around for life. It is the friends we meet along the way that help us appreciate the journey.