by Sydney Cloutier ’27 on September 24, 2026
Editor's Column
Hey there, Friartown! I wanted to take a second to talk to all the freshman Friars out there who are reading this. If you have managed to survive the past month, congrats! Things will only get worse. I’m joking! But seriously, on an academic note, get ready to lock in. It’s rough out here.
I hope you’re all settling in and getting used to the dining hall food instead of home-cooked meals. Shoutout Ray Dining, you guys are killing it. If you’re anything like me, the biggest adjustment is making friends and putting yourself out there. It might seem like I’m great at putting myself out there since I’m writing a letter to all of you that anybody in the world can read. But I assure you, this admirable bravery that I display was not always the case. I, too, was once a shy and lonely freshman who called her parents way too much. Well, as lonely as you can get living in dorms surrounded by around 30 other 18-year-old girls. But nonetheless, the beginning of my freshman year was what most people would call tragic. I won’t get too much into it, but let’s just say that my visits back home were far too frequent for anybody emotionally stable.
You might be thinking, how can I avoid having a tragically lonely freshman year like you? Well, that, my freshman friend, is surprisingly easy! Your first step is to get out of your Twin XL bed and open that teeny tiny little door of yours. Now, the next part is where it gets hard. Well, at least it was hard for me. TALK TO PEOPLE!!! And I’m really not trying to be rude. I know it’s difficult, and it might feel like pulling teeth, but seriously, the only reason why I am writing this and not still a hermit is because I started talking.
Last time I checked, it’s still September (which is super early), and you have plenty of time to make friends. And a little side note, you really never stop making friends. Even as a senior, I’m still meeting new people.
You might be saying, but Sydney, no one wants to talk to me! And to that I say, you are simply talking to the wrong people. Oh, but how do you find your people? That’s where I found it to get a little tricky and everyone has a different experience.
I was lucky enough to have a wonderful roommate who is still one of my best friends. We would always keep our door open when we were just chilling, and I honestly met a surprising amount of my very good friends through having people pop in just to say hello. I also started talking to people in my major-specific classes since that seemed to be the easiest way to find people with similar interests. I even went out of my way to join clubs and power through the awkwardness that comes with joining a pre-existing group. At first, it felt like torture, but eventually things got easier. And I promise you that the uncomfortable feelings are worth it. Just hang in there, you really aren’t as alone as you think!
Sincerely, your no longer lonely editor,
Sydney