Coping with friends going to University

FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) can really creep up on you, even if you are a self-proclaimed introvert! Watching your friends go out every night whilst you’re sat at home with nothing else to do other than scrolling through social media can suck! I have definitely been there and it has made me feel lonely at times.

Stop watching stories that make you sad!

One of the best ways I found to combat this was to simply stop  watching those stories. I sometimes turn my phone off or just mute stories and there is nothing wrong with that. It can be so easy to forget that you are in charge of what you view on social media. If something doesn’t make you happy online, you don’t have to watch it!

Visit your friends!

One positive thing about your friends moving away is the fact there are now loads of new places you can visit! You don’t have to just see your friends when they come back home.

I have had many great weekend staying with my friends at university, getting to explore new cities and getting my very own taste of the uni lifestyle!

Make plans when your friends are back home!

When everyone comes back for the summer and Christmas holidays, make the most of it by planning things you can do so you have something to look forward to.

Don’t compare yourself to other people

Remember to not compare yourself to other people! If you aren’t going to uni, it can be easy to feel left out. I personally felt very much like ‘I wasn’t doing anything with me life’, when all my friends left for uni, especially as I was having a year out to think about my options. Looking back that was completely untrue – I was considering my options and doing what was best for me. I wouldn’t be where I am now if I did what I thought other people should be doing.

You have to remember each person is on their own path (cliché I know but it’s true).

You can meet new people too!

When my friends went to uni I felt like it was going to be impossible to meet anyone new, but you really don’t have to go to university to make new friends, although I have met lots of new people through visiting my friends at uni.

Working during my gap year and then eventually getting my apprenticeship was one of the main ways I was able to meet lots of lovely new people. I also spent more time working on my hobbies and finding new interested which is also a great way to expose yourself to new people! 

Written by Charlotte Fitzpatrick, Digital Technology Degree Apprentice at BT with Ravensbourne University
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