Robert Medhurst used up much of his orientation week browsing through online platforms, seeing content about other students' fun nights out.
"I stayed indoors," Robert recalls, depicting those days as the most isolated period of his life.
Robert's flatmates didn't go out much, and his studies didn't appear very sociable.
Even though he made efforts by participating in sample activities for various societies, he was unable to locate like-minded individuals.
"I began losing my confidence," he says. "I felt like people didn't want to be friends with me, or they weren't fond of me."
Initially, Robert wasn't considering of studying at university and had a job offer for after sixth form.
Yet he watched his acquaintances living it up as students on Instagram.
"When you must rise for your job during the week at nine in the morning and you see someone's been out on Wednesday night, you do start thinking situations appear superior," Robert mentions.
TV shows and social media can glorify the idea of student life.
Lots of people begin university with high expectations for what they believe could be the most wonderful time of their lives.
Various learners come to university with "rose-tinted glasses," notes a counselling manager.
Alisha Miah's social media content was filled with content of students enjoying themselves while cohabitating in college residences.
But when she relocated from her hometown to university to learn reporting, she found freshers' week "intense" because of the substance involvement it involved.
She abstains from alcohol and had avoided party scenes before.
"I utilized a lot of freshers' week inside my accommodation," she says. "I simply experienced somewhat isolated."
Through current studies of more than 10,000 undergraduate students, 29% said they thought about dropping out.
The primary factor was emotional state, succeeded by financial concerns.
"Worry regarding all of these different things is extremely prevalent, and typical," explains a support specialist.
Eventually, the students gradually adjusted and developed friendships.
Alisha made friends during classes and through TikTok, while Christina felt happier when she could to move in with friends.
Regarding his experience, presently older and in his final year, it was joining his university's drama society and working occasionally that helped him make friends.
The suggested approach to beginning learners struggling to socialize is to just "get out of your room" and participate in group trial sessions.
"After a few weeks of continuous participation, others notice your presence," he mentions, "you notice their presence, and you start making friends."
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