Loneliness is no longer an exception, but a routine part of the university experience
Loneliness on campus has become so normalized that it’s no longer treated as something urgent. It is expected. Almost routine. Between lectures, group chats and packed study spaces, students are surrounded by people at all times, yet many still describe feeling profoundly alone.
Saiynah Soin, a second-year law and society student, says loneliness is often quiet and easy to overlook. “Most days pass without real conversation,” Soin shared. “I go to class, I sit next to people, I leave. No one’s mean, no one’s rude. There’s just no connection. It feels like everyone already found their people in their first year, and if you missed that window, you’re just … floating.”
That sense of floating is something many students at Laurier Brantford relate to, particularly those who do not live in residence. While the campus is smaller, which in theory should foster stronger connections, several students say the limited campus life makes isolation more pronounced rather than less.
A first-year BA student, who shared their experience online on Reddit under the username AggravatingProcess84, described how the lack of student clubs and events made it difficult to feel connected. They noted that while residence students tend to form friendships more easily, commuters and off-campus students often struggle to find opportunities to meet people. “I expected more ways to connect with other students,” they wrote, “but the opportunities are very limited.”
For some students, loneliness is hidden behind constant productivity. Jessica Khan, a first-year criminology student, explained that being busy can mask feelings of isolation. “My calendar is full. I’m in class, at work, studying, answering emails,” Khan said. “But I don’t feel close to anyone. It’s like I’m performing as a student instead of actually living as one.” She added that when loneliness looks like productivity, it becomes harder to acknowledge, and even harder to talk about.
Shared spaces on campus, which are meant to bring students together, often reinforce this disconnect. Chris Josephine, a third-year criminology student, described spending hours in One Market’s Student Commons without interacting with anyone. “Everyone is together but separate,” Josephine said. “Headphones in, eyes down. You feel weird about wanting to talk. It’s like loneliness is built into the environment, and acknowledging it feels embarrassing.”
Several students also point to the structure of campus social life as part of the issue. While events like karaoke nights at Hudson Public on Wednesdays or trips to Brando’s every couple of weeks offer some opportunities to socialize, students say these options feel repetitive and limited. Sophie Schneider, a first-year BA student, explained that it often feels like “There’s only something to do on Wednesdays,” leaving those who work evenings, commute, or don’t enjoy bar settings feeling excluded.
Safety concerns further complicate student life, particularly for those attending night classes. The area surrounding campus can feel unsafe after-dark, which discourages students from staying out late to study or socialize. As AggravatingProcess84 noted, many students rely on services like HawkWalk or the Special Constables Service, but the need to plan safe transportation often cuts social time short and reinforces the feeling that the campus is somewhere to pass through, not stay in.
While academics and small class sizes are frequently said to be the strengths of Laurier Brantford, students have expressed that limited course offerings can add another layer of stress. Required courses offered only in specific terms make scheduling inflexible, leaving little room for exploration or balance. Over time, academic pressure combined with limited social infrastructure can intensify feelings of isolation.
When loneliness becomes normalized, it stops being addressed. It becomes something students quietly carry instead of something institutions actively respond to. And the longer it’s treated as culture rather than crisis, the easier it becomes to overlook the students who are struggling the most.
While loneliness may not be loud on campus, that does not mean that it does not manifest itself everywhere.
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