One of college’s most appealing qualities is its diversity. The dorm room experience exposes students to people of different origins, and the classroom encourages cultures, thoughts and ideas to combine into a noteworthy commentary on community. This creation of friendships, though, is what might make out-of-state students feel lonely during Spring Break.
A survey conducted by Statista in 2016 reveals that in the U.S. there are on average 78.5 percent of college students enrolled in the state they lived in. This means that 21.5 percent of college students traveled out of state to pursue an education. Taking a look at recent enrollment stats from popular public universities, this number has increased to around 30 percent, according to Mikhail Zinshteyn at Cal Matters.
Out-of-state students live and study on campus, but when gaps in between classes like Spring Break roll around, they travel back home. What does this mean for out-of-state students who live hours away from the friends they’ve made?
Forming connections with friends that could possibly be there for life and then having to spend time away from them could cause intense feelings of loneliness, especially for students who are returning to a less-than-pleasant environment. College towns are safe havens for students who want to wipe the slate clean, start anew and be accepted for who they are. Spring Break doesn’t last long compared to other breaks, but still offers enough time for feelings of loneliness to manifest. So what can be done to stay connected over that week?
The easiest way to stay connected, according to Glenn Sparks, is by picking up the phone. Sparks shares his studies on friendship with Andrea Thompson at Live Science, and shows that friends form closer connections just by having a chat over the phone. His study began in 1983 and ran for 19 years, yet the results can still be applied to daily life.
“The more investment the friendship pair had when they came to the study…,” Sparks told Thompson, “The more likely they were to be close 19 years later.”
USA Today agrees with this sentiment in an article published in 2020, stating that modern technology can make bonds strong and long-lasting. Their number one recommended way of staying in touch with friends is by video-chatting them.
While the concept sounds easy in itself, reaching out to others is beyond intimidating. No matter how much reassurement the messenger may receive, they might hesitate to hit the call button. Keep in mind that the friend might be just as scared of reaching out! They might be waiting for that one text message or call—even a natural extrovert may face these doubts.
As an out-of-state student myself, I often relied on video calls and messaging to stay in touch with friends. Before moving on-campus, I always made an effort to video chat the friends I’d made through mutual college groups on social media.
Plans for a get-together can be made through Instagram, Snapchat or Discord. There is potential stored within the electronic keyboard on your screen. Social media platforms are always frowned upon, and people tend to focus on the negatives associated with them, but social media has connected me with my closest friends, and it could do the same for others.
When I’m having doubts about reaching out, I always take the risk of sending out that text because friendships are a two-way street. I know that if I don’t reach out, others might think I don’t want to talk or spend time with them. If I’m scared, I close my eyes and hit the send button. It’s always worth it in the end.