So much of the university experience rises and falls on the friends you make. The good news is everybody is looking for friendship and God has people for you to journey with. Start praying now into what God has in store; the friends who will become friends for life, the friends who really need your friendship and the friends for whom you will share your life in Christ with.
Even with social distancing measures in place you can expect to make good friends as you offer your friendship to others.
Be bold in making new friends. Some of this may start online through freshers forums for the university you are going to. Share the course you are studying and where you are going to be living and some of your interests and hobbies. It is unlikely these interactions will go to much depth but they can serve to make connecting with people easier when you finally do arrive.
Ask a few of your current close friends to be part of the transition, this is very reassuring and helps new students fully integrate into their new university life and not be tempted to keep going home at the weekends. In fact this is best avoided and you may need to prepare yourself for a little bit of homesickness – that will certainly pass as you lean into God, the prayers of current friends and as you begin to explore new friendships.
It will probably be a less frantic Freshers' Week than you may have heard about due to social distancing. However, student committees will get creative to help students feel at home quickly. My advice is to throw yourself into whatever is happening, trusting God for the right connections and conversations.
Rich Wilson is movement leader of Fusion. He has recently written ‘A Call Less Ordinary’ to help students discover their calling in God and navigate the next steps.
