University can be an incredibly isolating and overwhelming place, particularly when you have to navigate it away from family and friends. The list of societies on campus is virtually endless; however, they still might not be what you are looking for. Although most people settle into campus-living during their first year here, the University site is also just a fraction of Brighton and what it has to offer. Being part of the campus community can be really positive and supportive; but, you don’t have to limit yourself. I encourage everyone to familiarise themselves with the app ‘Meetup’, which is filled with every kind of community you can think of: sports, literature, music and more. Whether joining a community sparks your interest or you want to start your own group, the opportunity is there.
In such a digitalised world, our lives have shifted online, reducing the number of connections we make each day. This can have a detrimental effect on our mental health, particularly during a time of great change and uncertainty. Joining a community can offer a sense of stability that may be missing from the university’s often chaotic environment. The National Institutes of Health concluded in one study that people who expressed a stronger feeling of community in their area also reported less signs of depression, anxiety, and stress. ‘Terrible Football’ is a free community on Meetup that welcomes people from all backgrounds, ages, and skill levels. Through weekly matches, the group hopes to highlight the importance of physical health as well as mental health – as the two very much overlap. A regular Terrible Football attendee says he finds the social aspect has now taken over from merely exercise as pub get-togethers and gameday hangouts with other members are commonplace. Members are finding their home-away-from-home through connecting with people of similar backgrounds, which can certainly ease the process of moving.
Numerous groups on Meetup focus on embracing diversity and inclusion through providing safe spaces for marginalised groups to get together. Brighton Queer Book Club meets on the last Thursday of every month to discuss a preselected LGBT+ book of choice. This community highlights voices that have often been ignored, while shedding light on queer literary spaces which focus on celebrating those voices, such as The Feminist Bookshop and The Queery. Being part of a community can foster a sense of belonging through the exposure to diverse ideas and experiences, valuing individuals for who they are. Shared interests are where deep connections are created.
For those whose thirst for knowledge goes beyond their studies, communities such as BRIGHTHINK hold “entertaining, stimulating and challenging” talks around Brighton, covering topics in science, politics, medicine & health, religion and history. After paying £5 on the door, you can listen to invited speakers talk about their specific areas of interest whether it be Big Pharma, Mythbusting Charles Darwin’s work, or an ex-Scientologist sharing their life story. These places of discussion offer professional growth as well as personal growth by interacting with speakers in the allocated Q&A time, as well as with other attendees from all stages of life, expanding your network. Therefore, Meetup communities offer a chance to be part of something bigger than your studies and your university.
University is the time for trying new things, meeting new people and learning more about yourself. Even though people from all stages of life take part in Meetup groups, the communities could not be more accessible for students as a result of there being little to no attendance fee. Through the absence of mandatory memberships, communities stress the importance of forming sincere connections. Instead of reducing our face-to-face interactions, we can utilise technology to increase genuine in-person relationships – something that the Meetup app is specifically designed to do!
