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For many students including myself, the fall semester has began!
With a new semester upon us, the promise of new volunteer or work opportunities can be both exciting and intimidating. For most, there is a healthy balance of both, and there may even be more excitement than nerves to get out there. With that being said, being more apprehensive than excited isn’t something to worry about and is totally normal too, but for people who struggle to regulate their nerves on a daily basis, the thought of seeking new opportunities is terrifying.
Some anxiety is needed for healthy development but when a person cannot cope with distress and/or efficiently regulate their emotional levels, the anxiety becomes atypical and needs to be addressed. Regulation of negative emotions typically develops in early childhood and continues to develop into adolescents. The environment, genetics, experiences, and individual differences of a person can impact the ability to self-regulate physiological (bodily) arousal, emotions and coping strategies. Anxiety can be categorized as an anxiety disorder when it changes in intensity (how disabling the anxiety is), frequency (how many time a person’s experiences it), and impact (changes in typical everyday functioning). Furthermore, anxiety disorders are a result of worrying about the future and characterized by excessive worries, exaggerated fears, somatic symptoms (e.g. upset stomach, sweaty hands, muscle aches etc), and avoidant behaviours (Parritz & Troy, 2024).
For someone who struggles with anxiety, social networking can almost seem impossible because they are worried about how others perceived them, or how their symptoms may manifest in a social setting -which deters them from even trying. In this blog, I hope to suggest some easy ways to network with others that I have found helpful as a university student during the pandemic and onwards.
Attend office hours! For those that do not know, office hours are when the professor or teaching assistants reserve a certain time a week to connect with students outside of normal class times. Attendance is optional and although it is encouraged by the teaching staff, I strongly encourage to attend on a regular basis whether or not you have questions about the course because they serves as the perfect opportunity to network with someone in the area you’re interested in. Connecting in class has the fear of others being around, but office hours are usually more one-on-one and casual. Since the pandemic, most are held online via Zoom which also alleviates the worry about going in-person and if not, professors may accommodate you by moving the office hours to Zoom because of how convenient it is. I found that while asking course related questions, there is always a chance to ask about related new opportunities to get involved and learn about other new experiences. Professors will also more likely remember people who attend office hours regularly, and that can improve the chances of being recognized as someone determined and interested when applying to get involved in their works.
Going to events on campus is another way to network, especially with your peers. Whether it be a student union’s movie night or campus-related informational pop-up event, attending smaller social events can be as beneficial as larger scale job and career fairs. With smaller events, there is less people to socialize with which can be both discouraging and less intimidating, but there is always that chance of them connecting you with someone else. There is also the possibility you’ll learn about opportunities you may never have heard of, and receive guidance on how to pursue some opportunities by learning about what they are looking for, how long the application takes, and etc from others.
Getting involved with clubs also opens the door to new opportunities. Think of it like a stepping stone, once you’re involved with one club, you can network and branch outwards into other clubs, but also advance in your current role. Additionally, you will meet many people along the way and they will be more than happy to introduce you to others and help build that social network. This allows you to start small, and is low-risk because oftentimes, you can leave your role at any time if it becomes too much.
Taking the first step is scary, but it can also be very rewarding to see how far you come. People with anxiety are extra fearful and wary of new opportunities since it involves putting yourself out there and thinking about the future so they may require extra support along the way. There are many ways to get involved other than attending office hours, going to campus events and getting involved in clubs, but there is no one correct way to do it; what may work for one person is not going to work for another, but having patience with yourself along the way is always needed.
References
Parritz, R. H., & Troy, M. F. (2024). Disorders of Childhood: Development and Psychopathology. (4th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Note: The Free Your Mind Mental Health Society is an independent youth-led organization. The contents of this blog are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In the event of a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 911 or other local emergency numbers immediately.