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How to overcome Social challenges Freshman Year
We define a "social life" as almost anything outside of academics that involves interacting with other Cornell Students. Social life includes Greek life, extra-curricular activities, clubs, friends, partying, and almost anything outside the realm of academics. There are three questions every freshman should know the answer to before the beginning of school that will help them to have successful social life freshmen year:
How necessary is a social life to having a successful freshman year? What potential social challenges can freshmen expect their first year at Cornell? How can freshmen overcome the social challenges they encounter?
If freshmen understand these challenges and make use of our suggestions, they will be able to face the social challenges they will face freshman year.
How necessary is a social life to having a successful freshman year?
It is extremely important to have a social life freshman year and beyond. There are three reasons that a successful social life is key to having a successful freshman year:
1. A social life gives freshman a much needed break from academic focuses 2. Meeting new people exposes freshmen to more opportunities and activities 3. A social life is part of the college experience
How can a social life give a freshman a much needed break from academics?
Activities outside the realm of academics are vital to staying sane as a Cornell student. Although there is no doubt that grades and academics should be a Cornell student's primary focus, a social life gives a student the ability release from the constraints of academic pressure, and it lets students enjoy themselves. If a student does not take part in social activities, they may find Cornell a bit depressing. For example, Crystal Zell, a former hotelie, highlights the importance of having a social life when fighting depression. She said, "I spent most of my time with other people; I found it difficult to be depressed when I was around friends."
Friends are not the only part of a social life that can help get a student's mind off academics. By engaging in activities outside of school, students can take their minds off academic challenges
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for a while. Brett Rubin found that any activity outside of academic obligations helped her be more successful as a freshman. She said, "Sometimes it's good to have commitments, and not just academic ones, that force you outside. I worked at The Statler and I found that to be a great "non-academic" network for me. When I went to work, it wasn't going to a party by any means, but I was going to a "home away from home." It's good to feel that you have responsibilities, and then once I was out of my dorm, I found it easier to run into Collegetown, or meet up with a friend who didn't live in my dorm--since I was already out."
Brett also believes that students should find activities outside of classes that bring them happiness. She says, " I think you also need to find out what makes you happy, and do as much of that as possible. I love working out, and yes it was hard to go to the gym when I had to bundle up and walk in the snow, but I knew I would feel better after I worked out. So, even if there are obstacles, it's important to push yourself to do what makes you happy."
What benefits do freshmen get by socializing and meeting new people?
By meeting new people and making friends, a freshman can find more activities and opportunities to take part in. The more activities and opportunities that a freshman is exposed to the more likely they are to find When we asked Lara Chrisomalis if she had a successful freshman year she yes, and attributed it directly to meeting new people and making friends. She said, "I had a great time freshman year. I got to know as many people as I could ... I tried new classes,
and that sort of thing."
Meeting new people is also a great way to make your Cornell experience more fun. Brett Rubin notes that getting to know everyone on her floor made depressing winter days seem fun. She said, "Get to know in people your dorms. That way, even if the snow is keeping you inside, you can still have fun!" Because Cornell has a surplus of depressing snowy days, meeting new people can be extremely beneficial.
How is a social life part of the college experience?
A social life is an essential part of the college experience. Hotel School freshmen can keep a healthy life-balance by engaging in social activities. It is imperative that they concentrate on not just their academic studies but their social lives as well. To fully enjoy and participate in the college experience a freshman must take time to engage in the social activities the university has to offer. Not participating in social events can lead to regret, and you may not get to experience everything college has to offer. Crystal Zell believes that she did not spend enough time taking part in social activities, and she regrets focusing strictly on academics. She says, "I didn't have
enough time to join all of the social groups or participate in enough hotel school activities because I spent too much time working." This can
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What social challenges are freshmen likely to face their first year of college?
There are two major social challenges that freshmen face their first year in college:
Making friends and meet new people: Freshmen have difficulty making friends and meeting people outside the Hotel School. Staying balanced: Freshmen often have difficulty finding the appropriate balance between work and play.
These challenges can make freshman year excessively difficult and emotionally draining. It is important to be aware of these challenges so you can avoid getting into the trouble that many freshmen find themselves in.
What are the challenges to making friends and meeting new people?
There are two major challenges that can get in the way of making friends and meeting new people in your first year at Cornell:
Long distance relationships Not knowing where to meet people
What challenges arise when trying to stay balanced your first year at Cornell?
There are two major challenges to finding a balance between work and play as a first year student:
Working too much Playing too much
It was hard to find a good balance between academics and social life. More of one than another is not necessarily good. It's just important to stay on track with your academics but at the same time you have to have a good time and stay social. Get involved in organizations and clubs, join a sorority, you know, taking advantage of all the extracurricular activities that Cornell has to offer because there are a number
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I came from a small town. I had a lot of people who came from large cities and had a very different context and had grown up with different social situation, priorities and experiences. (Peter Peterson)
The hotel school is a very social place. The dorms can also be a very social place. I think as a result, the few times I was completely alone, I found myself feeling anxious and nervous. It wasn't really until my senior year that I felt comfortable being completely alone. Now, I almost find myself enjoying those alone times. Once again, I think balance is the most important thing. If you balance the time you spend with others along with the time you spend alone, I think overall your mental health will be better. It's also important to have different types of friends. Often you're drawn to people just like you. Those make great friends, but also usually volatile friends. Surround yourself by people who are complete opposites from you--I wish I had done more of that. (Brett Rubin)
I didn't have enough time to join all of the social groups or participate in enough hotel school activities because I spent too much time working. (Crystal Zell)
Having a girlfriend in VA was Scott's biggest challenge. He also didn't create a social life for himself. Scott spent a lot of time in his dorm room, and he rarely went out or hung out with other students.
(Scott)