How do I deal with feeling socially isolated at Uni? Its getting frustrating after over a year of struggling.
I've been struggling to meet people since starting Uni. I got to know the people in my halls, but I don't share the same interests or values with them at all, its getting to feel claustrophobic how much time I need to spend with them. That sounds mean, but they are always joking about offensive things for shock value. I don't like it. I've tried a few social events and sort of got to know a few people, which is nice but not really stayed in touch with many.
Anyway, I had been looking forward to this one event all week. I get really anxious about social events, but I try and encourage myself. I wore my favourite clothes, packed some lunch, spent a lot of time mentally preparing myself to meet some new people. I get to the meeting point and literally can't find anyone, it was a half hour bus journey to get there too. Check the date and time again, spend ten minutes at the meet up point looking around. I was one minute late but assumed the group would hang around. There was no group chat just Instagram posts which weren't being updated. These socials had happened in the past, so maybe everyone recognised each other and moved on very quick, or moved inside or something.
I spent half an hour at the place the event was trying to find people unsuccessfully. I decided to go on a walk instead and after an hour spotted the group I was hoping to join, it felt too weird at this point to join in and admit I had been wondering around the location hoping to find them (this was true for a little bit but I had given up hope by now). I hadn't been able to adjust to my mood changing and the situation making introducing myself awkward. I went home, because I just felt weird and overwhelmed by the situation. I worry I will not be able to find my people anymore, something similar happened last time I tried to do an event like this. I was very lonely on my foundation year, now I am in first and not much is changing. I'm getting frustrated having to deal with feeling isolated so often, but right now I feel embarrassed and disappointed.