Kendall W.

Photography by Katie Fox

If you’re reading this, you are not alone in your experiences.

For the years of my life leading up to college, I had been told that these would be the best years of my life. Unfortunately, I started college in August 2020, so the only interactions we could have were socially distanced with masks. I was an introverted person and the pandemic created a situation where it was even harder for me to meet people. All of my classes were online, so most of my time was spent in my dorm room alone. Because of this, I had a really tough time transitioning to a new environment and being independent. I wasn’t able to reach out for help because I didn’t feel like people would understand. I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t have the experience that I had been told I was supposed to have. 

Eventually, I told my mom over Thanksgiving break that I was struggling. Simply admitting that I was not happy was an immediate relief, but her advice also changed the course of my college experience. She told me, “every freshman on a college campus must be feeling the same way.” I was holding on to the idea that everyone else was thriving, and there was something wrong with me when I couldn’t figure it out on my own. She made me realize that I definitely was not the only one feeling like this. 

So, in the spring, I started a chapter of Ifyourereadingthis at Wake Forest. I knew that it would be helpful to have a place where people can share their stories and find a community of people who had also been struggling. Through this process, I met a lot of lovely people who were so open about their experiences. I discovered, unsurprisingly, that feeling isolated during the pandemic was an extremely common experience that most of my peers went through as well. When I reached out to my friends about feeling isolated, all of them felt the same way. Having that conversation with them made all of us feel better and more connected to each other. Now, in my senior year, I know how universal my experiences are and have found a community where I can share my experiences.

So, if you are feeling alone, angry, or sad, there are people who will understand. Reach out to your friends and family because chances are they will have experienced those same feelings. Just knowing that you aren’t isolated in your experience is so helpful. And, if your friends or family can’t understand or haven’t lived through what you have, join a group. There are so many groups out there that can connect you with people who are experiencing exactly what you have. I hope you know that you are not alone. 

Sincerely,

Kendall W., Wake Forest

Connect With Us

To follow IfYoureReadingThis at Wake Forest on Instagram, get in touch with our chapter, and learn about more resources available to Wake Forest students, visit our chapter’s homepage.