It is the inevitable moment. Every college student has been there, more often than we care to admit. It’s the awkward moment of scanning into Chuck’s (the dining hall) alone and eating by yourself. It goes deeper than that: walking across campus alone, studying by yourself, not having any plans on a Friday night, or sitting by yourself for church on Sunday mornings. We don’t live in an ideal world, and even at Cedarville University, there may come a time when you feel lonely. I have certainly had times where I’ve felt lonely. However, there is good news…
You don’t have to feel alone! There are several remedies to the sickening feeling of being alone.
Orgs:
Cedarville orgs (short for organizations) are groups of people with common interests. These groups can easily become your closest friends. I know several orgs that get weekly meals together in Chuck’s. Most orgs meet together either weekly or every other week. Being involved with an org at Cedarville University is just one way to get connected with people. Some of the orgs on campus include, but are not limited to:
- Discipleship Ministries
- AYO (dance)
- Students For Life
- German Club
- Paws 4 Disabilities
- Chemistry Club
- CU Chess Club
- DTR (improv group)
- Missions Org
- Spanish Club
- Mu Kappa (multi-cultural group)
If you are interested in getting involved with an organization, it’s important to attend the involvement fair, which is in the beginning of every academic year. Every organization will have a booth set up around the lake for you to look around and see which group of people and activities attract you the most. If you are interested in joining a group in the middle of the year, most orgs are more than happy to welcome a new member in. Never be afraid to reach out to an organization to get more connected with the study body!
Recreation:
If you are feeling lonely, my biggest recommendation is to go have fun. Cedarville University has several great possibilities to help mitigate the feelings of loneliness. The rock climbing wall, conveniently located in Callan Athletic Center, is a great place to meet people while still having fun. Intramural sports are also available, and are a great way to go out and have fun with a group of people!
The Hall:
Your hall or unit is literally always there. You will have a special relationship with the people of your hall. Even if you choose not to be involved with the hall and bro/sis events your hall puts on, there is still a very special bond with the people. You share the same three toilets and the same six showers. You laugh at the dumbest things at 1 a.m. and cry at the harder things in life. If you feel alone, talk to your RA (resident assistant). They are there for you. I cannot tell you how many times I felt so encouraged after talking to my RA.
Reach Out:
If you are feeling alone, reach out to your friends! This is very important. We’ve all been there. I have had multiple times where I just reached out to a friend when I felt alone. Most of the time someone is looking for someone to eat or hangout with. They’ll grab dinner with you or go see a movie with you. And yes, while friends can’t be there every time you feel alone, it never hurts to send a simple text.
Church:
I cannot stress how important it is to get involved in your church. The body of Christ is so important. I would recommend starting to look for a church the very first Sunday on campus. The church family is a wonderful, special bond. And the good news? There are several great churches near campus. Some are within walking distance. Others are worth the drive. Don’t have a car? No worries; some churches even offer shuttle service to and from campus. Several churches even come to the new student involvement fair. A list of great churches include, but are not limited to:
- Grace Baptist Church
- Heritage Fellowship Church (HFC)
- Centerville Christian Fellowship (CCF)
- Apex Community Church
- University Baptist Church (UBC)
- Southgate Baptist Church
- Shawnee Hills Baptist Church (this is the church I attend)
Being connected with the church is so important. I am so thankful for my church family. The pastor’s wife approached me on Easter Sunday and invited me to her and her husband’s house for an Easter meal. Because of the love my church family showed me, I didn’t have to spend Easter alone.
Yes, loneliness is a real feeling. And, yes, you may experience a day on campus where you feel alone. However, the good news is that there are several different ways to mitigate loneliness. Yes, friends will let you down. Orgs will not be able to meet every week. The church family can’t eat in Chuck’s with you every day. And the people in the hall may need to go to bed early. However, God is always there. The times I have felt the loneliest, God has always been there to comfort me. Through worship music and prayer walks across campus, I have realized that being lonely is a real feeling but it doesn’t change who I am, a child of God. Don’t worry, future Yellow Jacket; even if you feel lonely for a day or two on campus, Cedarville has a lot to offer to help. But more so, God is always there! With Jesus, we never have to feel lonely. What a friend we have in Jesus!
Majoring in Broadcasting Digital Media (Video Concentration), Class of 2022
Where I’m from: Born and raised in Georgia then moved to Iowa
Favorite Class: Media Ethics
Go to Rinnova Order: Dirty Chai
Tags: #advice, #alone, #friends
Posted in: Well-Being