Advice From a Formerly Lonely College Student
In 2017, Emery Bergmann, who was then a freshman at Cornell, made a four-minute video about the loneliness she felt in her first few weeks at college: Do You Ever Feel Lonely? In “ Advice From a Formerly Lonely College Student ,” Ms. Bergmann, now a college sophomore, writes about what she’s learned since making the video and gives advice to new students. Reflect a little, and share: • Do you ever feel lonely? If so, when have you felt most alone and why? • What impact does social media have on feelings of loneliness? In your experience, does it worsen your sense of social isolation? Or does it make you feel more connected? Why? • Do you find it relatively easy or difficult to make friends? What does it take for you to form genuine connections with others? What hopes and worries do you have about making friends after high school?