Not what we were promised: Loneliness and the search for connection after COVID

Growing up, most of us heard stories about how wonderful the university experience must be. Whether parents, teachers, or university graduates, these vivid and engaging stories paint a picture of lifelong friendships, wild parties, and growing into a successful and well-rounded adult.

However, the long-awaited university experience has lost its magic. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the continued growth of social media platforms, campus landscapes have changed from today's bustling common areas, shared classrooms, and busy cafeterias to empty and silent corridors and vibrant social hubs inhabited by ghosts. and dust bunnies.

According to the 2016 National College Health Assessment Survey, university students experience a higher prevalence of loneliness than any other demographic, which was evident in responses from the Mount Royal campus.

One student said he noticed a disconnect because most students attend class only for class and homework and leave immediately after it's over.

“So I feel like I'm more 'alone' in classes than I would be without the Covid experience,” one student told us.

With an inability to connect with on-campus peers caused by the recent damaging social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, research suggests that with 80% of first-year university students forced to study off-campus in 2021 and 2022, isolation and anxiety among students has increased significantly, and as the population adjusts to life post-pandemic continues.

Joseph Nguyen, president of SAMRU's executive board and a current education student, also struggled with loneliness and highlighted the serious consequences of social isolation, one of which is rejection of invitations to social gatherings.

“One of the counterintuitive reactions to loneliness is that your walls go up, your defenses go up,” Nguyen said.

Despite the significant decline in social connections on campus, if you go to any social media platform, there are countless videos showing students' desire to connect socially with their peers.

Those who struggle with loneliness can find solace in shared journeys with others; Most, if not all, university students today are hopeful and ready to make real and lasting connections.

It depends

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