Comment by bdcravens

Comment by bdcravens 2 days ago

2 replies

Some of these ideas are possibly terrible, but just a brain dump:

I'd pop your head into random events in college, even if it's groups you don't feel align with you.

Try some courses that tend to require higher levels of interaction (like theatre)

I wouldn't join a fraternity, but that's a way some connect with others.

Turn yourself into a billboard, wearing T-shirts for things you like (bands, geeky things, etc). A "cool shirt" comment can start a conversation.

Start smoking. Ok, don't do that. But when I was in school it gave me a reason to congregate in the smoking section of campus. Terrible idea, but it did help me meet some people that almost 30 years later I still consider friends.

> What am I supposed to do? Be lonely and without any kind of company and human connection my entire life?

You won't be. I'm 48 now, and while I'm somewhat well adjusted, when I was your age, and even a bit older, I was such an introverted outcast. Still am, I just learned how to communicate better over time and more or less relate to people where they are, even if we are different. We all grow at different rates. That doesn't help your sense of loneliness today, but as you discover yourself and who your "tribe" is, those connections will form and grow, even if it seems impossible today.

AstroNutt 2 days ago

"Turn yourself into a billboard, wearing T-shirts for things you like (bands, geeky things, etc). A "cool shirt" comment can start a conversation" .

I met my best friend of 30 years by wearing a Rush tee-shirt. It started a conversation.

seanmcdirmid 2 days ago

No sh*t about smoking. You have whole social circles that you can easily join just for afternoon or morning smoke breaks. My head misses it but also remembers the nicotine headaches I used to get as well so I guess I’ve somehow overcome that after more than a decade after quitting. The social aspect is undeniable though, and I’m glad there is social pressure against it now, as well as limiting places where people can smoke to far off isolating places.