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How should I, as a freshman, look to get involved on campus, in order to build a quick sense of community and belonging, so that college can feel like home?

I am a high school senior, who is going to attend Liberty University, in Virginia, in the fall. I have built a really strong sense of community in my home town in California, and since I'm moving so far away I know a strong community will help me a lot as I miss my home. What are some programs/clubs/things I should do to really get involved early on campus in order to build strong relationships? Should I get a job on campus, join some clubs, etc.? Thanks for the advice!

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Tucker’s Answer

The best part about being a freshman in college is that it is not unusual at all to walk up to someone, introduce yourself, and get to know them! You can do this at dining halls, your classes, dorm - really anywhere! It can feel strange at first, but it is all part of the college experience. I made several friend in college this way.
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SARAH’s Answer

Hi Parker, the best way to make connections is to be open, introduce yourself, and keep in touch with the people you meet. These small, repeated interactions help turn the campus into a community. Try to say yes often and join activities you truly enjoy, like clubs, residence events, or study groups. Good luck, and I hope you have a great time!
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Darreon’s Answer

One of the best ways to build that community far from home is by building a safe space dedicated to something you enjoy. For example, as a gamer going from San Bernardino, CA to Atlanta, GA, my first club was the result of me and some others who enjoyed fighting games to come together for events and outreach. It truly is as simple finding something you dont mind putting time into and then building upon it with others.
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Steven’s Answer

Jump into campus life by attending New Student Orientation, ConnectLU, the First-Year Hub, and Welcome Week events. These help you meet people and settle into routines quickly. Your residence hall is your first community, so go to meetings, meet your RA and hall leaders, and connect with your dorm mates. Join one interest-based club and one service group. Clubs help you meet people with similar interests, while service groups build strong friendships through shared goals. Consider an on-campus job later, after you’ve settled in. First, focus on building your social network, then add a job to enhance your community experience without overwhelming yourself.
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Jarrel’s Answer

Hey Parker, I know being far from home can be daunting and even evoke some anxiety so I want to take a moment to recognize that. Also, just to set the expectation as someone who's moved away from home that building a strong community takes time so don't rush or force it for familiarity.

In a practical sense, I would say ground yourself in the familiarity in terms of what you know. Find clubs or programs you were already doing in California or interest you've had. Having some level of familiarity and comfort in a subject allows you to focus on building good relationships rather that trying to juggle everything at once.

In addition, I would say yes to as many things as you can (within your limit) college is a time for everyone to get meet new people and build friendships, the only way to achieve that is to get out there and meet people. Never let it get in the way of your priorities, but take someone up on a event you may not have thought about you'll never know who you'll meet there and may even learn more about yourself.

Lastly, since you mentioned it I would say only get a job if you need it to build a resume or for finical reasons. While you can meet friends and build relationships at work, the variable of being attached to someone's livelihood adds another layer of difficulty there that would be best to avoid at least until you have another community to lean on during those diffculty times.

Good luck in Virginia and have an amazing time meeting new people!
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TRAVIS’s Answer

Take the minimum number of courses your first semester so you can adjust. Get a part time job on campus as a student worker or nearby. Join an intramural sports team on campus. Go to church, meet people, throw a frisbee at someone and see if they throw it back at you. People want to meet you too; you just have to introduce yourself. Good luck you will do well.
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Marty’s Answer

Parker,

Congratulations on heading to Liberty University this fall! Once you arrive, you'll find many other students also experiencing their first time away from home, just like you. You'll start building friendships with them and many others. I encourage you to explore groups and activities that interest you, but remember not to take on too much in your first year. Wishing you the best with your studies and all the amazing experiences college has to offer!
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Faith’s Answer

Hi Parker! Here's a simple way to organize your college activities. First, split them into personal and professional categories. For personal interests, think about what you love doing. If you like dancing, anime, or helping others, you could start a dance team, join an anime club, or get involved in community service groups.

For professional interests, consider what you want to study and your career goals. If you're interested in business or technology, look into joining clubs like a consulting club, social entrepreneurship group, or computer science club.

When you get to campus, you'll find many people eager to welcome new members. Just remember not to take on too much at once to avoid stress.
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Jamie’s Answer

Get super involved and always say "yes" (within reason) to any opportunity that comes your way! Opportunities to get involved in college are always really easy to find, as there's a lot going on on college campuses. Examples include a sorority/fraternity, part-time jobs on campus, organizations related to your major or specific college you are in, volunteer organizations, student council, etc. I worked several different part-time jobs on campus while I was in college, and it helped me not only meet other students and grad students, but also faculty and my professors. I was involved in a few business/accounting organizations, which helped me meet people in my major and also get connected with companies, including the company I work for today. You can also volunteer through the college you are going to, who I am sure has several events or weekly/monthly days to volunteer in the local community. This will also help you get acquainted with your local area around the campus, as well. When you get to campus, you will likely be overwhelmed with opportunities to get involved. Don't be afraid to try out some organizations and see what best fits you. Good luck! You are going to love getting involved on campus!
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Josh’s Answer

There are fortunately so many options that colleges and universities offer to incoming freshmen (and to returning students) to help build that broader sense of community you're looking for. Be open to as many opportunities that may exist: getting a part-time student job is one piece, as is looking for clubs (or ads for clubs at the student union).

Build in time when you first make the move to the university to ensure that you can attend any events that may bring together a wide variety of clubs and programs so you can tour and see what's available and what may resonate most with you. It's also a good idea to be open to the interests of your roommate/roommates as well as anyone else in your dorm/living situation.

You may find that being open to introducing yourself to these folks will expand the reach of your community and help define what may excite you most as a college student aside from your classwork and area of study.
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Jessica’s Answer

A sense of community is so important. It's great that you're thinking about getting involved in different things to build a new community away from home! I remember my university (also in Virginia, but not Liberty) had an event early in the school year. They had representatives from different clubs, businesses looking for part-time employees, and programs. I'd be on the lookout for an event like that because it shows you all the options you could consider in one place and at one time. You could get additional info during that event or even sign up for groups there that interest you! Before the event, I'd ask your career counselor how much time they recommend you devote to studying for each class. That way, you know how much additional time you may have each week for other activities. Getting a part-time job on campus is a great idea to give you financial flexibility and help pay for things you'll need/want. When deciding what other activities to sign up for, I'd think about the different clubs and activities you're already doing - what of those do you want to continue doing in college, what activities/groups interest you that you may want to try? My freshman year, I signed up for a club swim team the fall semester (I swam throughout high school and wanted to continue doing that). Then, I decided to join a sorority during the spring semester. I also had a part-time job working at the gym on campus. You have a lot of good ideas already, good luck Parker!
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Grace’s Answer

Hi Parker! I would hold off on getting a job until you've settled in a bit, but working on campus could be fantastic! You'll meet fellow students and make friends outside of work. Joining a club is also a great choice. I had a wonderful time in a volunteering club, where I made many friends and enjoyed helping others. I hope these ideas are helpful. Good luck!
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