<p>Ok. At long last, my replies to your wonderful suggestions. Again, I’m sorry that my clarifications ran so long. But I wanted to be very sure that I had cleared up this sort of confusion, so that you all could best help my friend with her dilemma. I really am very worried for her. I sometimes come off as flippant, but I seriously believe that my friend is actually undergoing a mental health crisis. She is very depressed. Part of this is certainly linked to the fact that she currently has no good friends at U Chicago because she can’t “find them” - the only part that I can actually help with, when I visit her later this term. That’s why I created this thread asking for help, and that’s why my last question in the first post asked for mental health services at U Chicago my friend could take advantage of… I would still appreciate guidance there too, by the way!</p>
<p>So to sum it up, so far you guys are saying:</p>
<p>ECs, ex literary publications, tutoring, political groups, films - JHS, unalove
Frats/bar night - JHS
classes - JHS (“to some extent”)
go to things you’ve been invited to on facebook - unalove
be patient - unalove</p>
<p>“Dude, there are actually cool people at U Chicago too, not just socially incompetent nerds and hipster types.” - pretty much everyone!</p>
<p>Did not find best friends @ U Chicago “first quarter first year;” “first years stink” - unalove (very true! I remember having this experience way back in high school!)</p>
<p>Ok. As you can tell, I obviously read all your posts and even took notes (did I mention that I’m a nerd? ;)). And I think that all your advice is sound. Thank you very much for it! </p>
<p>I am going to relay all your awesome advice to my poor friend. I would also love it if I could have some very SPECIFIC advice that she could act on instantly. As mentioned, she is kinda depressed (which, yes, may have colored her judgment of her housemates). But for now, that’s just something that we’re going to have to work around in finding solutions to this dilemma. So all this is excellent advice, but a depressed person might listen and think, “Ok, so this sounds like a good plan, but it’s so much! Where can I even start? No, better to continue lying in bed and not seeking help or treatment.” I’ve certainly had that feeling before!</p>
<p>So if anyone can give me very SPECIFIC action steps, that would be beyond appreciated. Not, you know, “Stand up. Put on socks. Go out of doors. Walk down the street.” But something like, “1. You may want to investigate the discus throwing club. 2. You can look on XXX to find the club leader’s names and meeting times and locations. (May not be necessary if U Chicago has a very organized student organization page - as mentioned, I do not go to this school, so I have no idea.) 3. You may want to bring your own discus and oil to your first meeting.” Something like that. Very simple, very clear, almost excessively hand-holdingly helpful. Remember, we’re dealing with a depressed individual here, so baby steps!</p>
<p>Again, thank you all so much for responding to my call of distress!</p>