"how will I make friends?"

[UntamedWisteria]

DS has had to delay starting Uni for a week because of having to self-isolate due to being in contact with a close friend who has tested positive for Covid.

He is not wildly enthusiastic about his Uni anyway as it's his 2nd choice, due to the A-level fiasco.

Now he has outlined a scenario to me where he will be stuck in his room most of his time watching lectures online, may not necessarily hit it off with his new flatmates, and won't be able to socialise generally because of the Rule of 6.

He's got a point, hasn't he? This is a boy who is sociable and charming and brimming with self-confidence normally.

What can I say to reassure him?

Does he like sport? Organised sport is still allowed so joining a club/society that is still running might help.

Unless his flat only contains other students on his course (in which case, getting together in the kitchen to have a 'mass screening' of lectures, with coffee etc might encourage friendly relationships?) and his course is only being taken by him and his flatmates, surely he will at least meet other people from the course? If only on Zoom or Teams or whatever? Are campus cafes etc open? He could always start a conversation with other people in the queue and see where that goes. I met one of my best friends in the waiting room at our GP's surgery.

Just trying to think positive here...

It's a bit rubbish isn't it? I'm reassuring mine by saying that everyone is in the same situation so they'll be keen to make connections via zoom or whatever too.
Have suggested she arranges to meet her online only small study group and anyone else she like the look of in real life, socially distanced way. She probably doesn't need my encouragement there.
I think I read that sports clubs are limiting the numbers they'll sign up this year due to limited training capacity etc. If he is interested in sport he's probably best advised to sign up soon

Thanks for the suggestions. He is sporty and I have passed on the advice to sign up early.

I agree with him. It's going to be tougher this year than most. But they are all in the same situation. And they are teenagers! They will find ways to connect. They all want to meet and make friends and find love and try out new interests. They'll find ways.

I asked my DC if they wanted to defer because of this, and they pointed out it would be even more boring to be stuck at home, all friends gone to uni, no jobs around, no travel possible. What on earth would they do for a year? Better to start their new lives, despite the crisis. I thought they were very wise.

My ds decided to defer last week . He is very gregarious and is doing a course with very little contact time anyway. He has never worked in his bedroom always preferred the library /study spaces do was concerned when it became obvious that libraries etc are unlikely to be available to first years . He was happy to give it his best shot this year if he had to but has put together various options for this year, volunteering, hopefully a job, some tutoring etc . He enjoys a bit of social sport but is much more into drama , debating etc and felt that many of the things he enjoys would be impacted .

His feeling seems to be that whatever you do this year is going to be a challenge, next year maybe the same and he will have to go with it but at least this way he is giving himself the opportunity to have a slightly freer year next year or to be more prepared personally for ‘new style’ university. He is very lucky that if it comes to it we can support him and hopefully he realises how lucky that makes him.

His feeling is that