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“I’ll be there for you” are five very comforting words that not only characterize a popular sitcom from the 90s, but also the nature of friendships in general. Social support is such a crucial part of life that almost every sitcom is structured to highlight the importance of surrounding yourself with a loving community to be with you through every high and every low. There is something so powerful about sharing a relationship with another person that you can rely on for consolation and encouragement. Whether you have only one person to share this with or a whole list of people to turn to, it helps having someone present when life becomes difficult.��

I am someone who is constantly adding stuff to her plate, and at times this transforms into a juggling act to keep up with everything. As such, I am grateful to have friends and family that assist me in multiple ways. My mom cooks dinner for me when I am swamped with work. My coworkers make me laugh when I am too tired to power through an 8-hour work day. My best friend stays on call with me and tells me comforting words when I am going through a mental breakdown. These are just a few examples of how friendships can be useful when you are feeling overwhelmed or burnt out. It is through their love and assistance that I am able to succeed in achieving my goals.

Navigating college–especially as a freshman–is a test of strength. While the new found freedom can be alluring, it can also be lonely being away from everything and everyone you are familiar with. Often, students are away from their friends and family, which can become more evident as they run into each new roadblock of the semester. When college students have social support, they are less likely to suffer from markers of poor mental health such as depression or anxiety (1,2). Social support is positively influential on mental health and well-being, because having quality relationships helps promote positive emotions of the self and buffer negative effects of stress (2).��

Fortunately, college is filled with other students who are likely going through similar struggles and there are plenty of opportunities to form new friendships. You can engage in campus activities, attend football games, approach classmates/dorm-mates, and venture out to parties. Who knows who you will end up meeting and perhaps gain as an addition to your support network!

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1. ��Hefner, J., & Eisenberg, D. (2009). Social Support and Mental Health Among College Students. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry , 79 (4), 491–499.

1. Newhart, S. (2023). Social predictors of psychological well-being and symptoms of college students. Journal of American College Health , ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1–14.