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Can a commuter have a life at SFU?
I've been going to SFU almost 3 years now. I'm gonna be a 5 year student, so I'm over halfway done. I've slowly been coming to realize that aside from classes, I don't have much of a life at school. I'm a commuter.
Since I don't live there, I really haven't met very many people at school. In 3 years, I've only made about 2 friends at school. But I can't do much. I still live with my parents, so at the end of the day, I have to drive home at night. I don't get invited to parties. I don't get invited to any events.
Every day, I'm starting to become more and more self conscious at the fact that in 3 years, I've only have 4 photos and 20 posts in my facebook. What can I do? Can a commuter have a life at Simon Fraser University?
Since I don't live there, I really haven't met very many people at school. In 3 years, I've only made about 2 friends at school. But I can't do much. I still live with my parents, so at the end of the day, I have to drive home at night. I don't get invited to parties. I don't get invited to any events.
Every day, I'm starting to become more and more self conscious at the fact that in 3 years, I've only have 4 photos and 20 posts in my facebook. What can I do? Can a commuter have a life at Simon Fraser University?
Comments
Secondly, if you're that concerned, is there any way you can move into college?
If not (money reasons, etc.) then a few ideas:
- Join clubs. Awesome way to meet people with similar interests so you don't even have to spend the time sorting out your derro neighbors from the good ones. I doubt you've got classes from 9 to 5 every day with no time to go for a few hours every week (but correct me if I'm wrong).
- Get involved in a sport. Great way to meet people, keep fit and most will be the party-type.
- Join a study group.
- Ask those two friends if you can come along to any of their parties. You'll meet more people there.
- Be social with people in your classes and tuts. Do you have any group assignments throughout the year? Ask if people want to meet up at your house or somewhere in town to discuss the project. Go for some drinks or dinner or something.
- Every so often try crashing in someone's dorm room (obviously someone you're friends with). Plenty of socialising goes on in and around dorms without any parties or events being held so you'll meet plenty of people whether you want to or not.
Hope that helps in some way.
I have gone to parties, made friends, etc., but not even close to the amount of even the most socially awkward people that I know that live in dorms. Making friends and going to parties takes a LOT more effort if you commute. In first year, I made that effort (trying to meet people, asking about parties, etc.) and it worked pretty well.
The thing is, though, that I meet mostly acquaintances and I feel like I have to do the same thing every year (or even every semester sometimes). Now that I'm getting into upper division courses, people are getting more focused with school and less concerned with meeting people like they were in first year. So I do think that it's possible, but in my opinion it is very difficult for someone to commute and have a good -college life-. People in the dorms have it so easy, they don't even know.
You either have to have a well-established group of friends that can invite you to events, or you need to join student organizations and go to student events. Another thing that crossed my mind is VOLUNTEERING. There are usually service organizations around, and you can meet some great people there. I feel like once you have some good friends that don't know each other, you can start to branch out and meet different people, so make sure you don't just settle with one group of people. In any case, make sure you get involved. I had a tough freshmen year due to commuting and wanted to transfer. After getting more involved, I enjoy Simon Fraser University much more. I hope that helps in some way.
or do you just use facebook solely for SFU related stuff.
Doesn't everyone commute? Besides the people that live in Rez??
It's my 3rd year and I've made a lot of friends through clubs and school activities.
Why do you have to meet all your friends at school? I don't have any friends who I consistently hang out with that I met at school. Most of the people I know, I know through work or through friends of friends I made before going to college and uni.
I personally don't find school to be a great place to make friends, do something in the 'real world' if you are a commuter. Make friends at your job, or do activities and get involved with people there.
I work full time and go to school full time, honestly I dont have time for school events on Burnaby campus, I come to class and leave. If one thing just talk to one person in each of your classes?
I think a lot of people are afraid of talking to people but we all are going through the same thing and want to talk to people in class. I have found a great conversation starter is in tutorials: "Isn't lecture boring" or "What do you dream about when you sleep in lecture?"
You should be happy with things that make you happy. Not the amount of photos you've been tagged in on facebook, or your wall posts. Most people who have tonnes of photos tagged are partiers or constant camera carriers.
Do what makes YOU happy. If you are happy playing video games do it, if you are happy reading do it. I was dating someone the past 3 years and just broke up with him, so of course I don't have 300 photos tagged of me cause I spent most of my time with one person.
Look forward to when you graduate so you can meet people at a job, or do things like yoga, or kick boxing or any other activity. I mean for me I'm older than most undergraduates cause I'm 24 so generally the people on campus are too cliquey and high school for me.
Just do what makes you happy, school doesnt have to be your life