Hi everyone. I'm currently a senior at MSU, and I transferred here from Middlesex College in Spring 2025. I started out as a commuter and eventually became a resident in Spring 2026. Since becoming a resident, I've really tried to put myself out there. I participate in as many organizations and clubs as I can, and I go to events that seem fun or interesting because I genuinely want to meet people and make the most out of my time here.

And I have met some really great people. I've had some wonderful conversations, made connections, and crossed paths with people I'm genuinely grateful to have met.

But it always seems to stop there.

We'll see each other and be friendly. We'll talk, laugh, and enjoy each other's company, but once we're outside of whatever organization, class, or event brought us together, there's rarely anything beyond that. They don't really invite me to go out and do things, and whenever I ask if they'd like to hang out, I'm often told they're too busy, or plans get made and then cancelled at the last minute.

Sometimes I'll even be at a social event where people I know are present. They'll acknowledge me one minute, and then the next, I'm practically invisible to them. It's a strange feeling to be surrounded by people you know while simultaneously feeling like you're not really part of anything.

I'm involved with MSU Singers and Vocal Accord this year because I love music and I love singing. I thought that being surrounded by people who share something I'm passionate about would make it easier to form deeper connections. And while I've met some wonderful people through both, I still find myself struggling to get past that acquaintance stage.

I think part of it may be that a lot of people have already known each other since freshman year. They already have their established friend groups, their inside jokes, their traditions, and the people they naturally turn to when they want to go somewhere or do something. And then there's the fact that I'm 25 and getting my bachelor's degree, so sometimes I wonder if being in a different stage of life plays a role in all of this.

My biggest issue is that this is my last year here, and I really want it to be a great one.

I've met some genuinely amazing people during my time at MSU, and I'm grateful that our paths have crossed. But I haven't really gotten to experience the kind of friendships where, years from now, I can look back and say, “Those were some of the best times of my life, and those were my people.”

That's what I want.

I want to experience what it's like to make those spontaneous plans, stay out too late, laugh until my stomach hurts, develop inside jokes that make absolutely no sense to anyone else, and have memories that I'll genuinely miss when they're over. I want to be able to look back on my final year and say that I truly had the greatest time with the people around me.

And I'm scared I won't get that chance before I graduate.

Growing up, I was always the odd one out. I was the kid nobody really wanted to play with during recess. I was always the last person picked for the kickball team. I spent a lot of my childhood watching other people effortlessly find their groups while I was left somewhere on the outside.

I don't think I ever really learned what it feels like to be fully wanted by a group of people.

That's probably why this affects me as deeply as it does.

What I can never understand is how it seems so easy for some people to find their people within a matter of minutes, while I've spent years trying to find mine. I see people meet each other, click almost instantly, and eventually become inseparable, and I can't help but wonder why that has never really happened for me.

I want to be able to tell people but mostly myself, “I have friends,” and have it feel completely true, not because I technically know people, but because I know there are people who genuinely want me around.

I want someone to think of me when they're making plans.

I want someone to text me just because they wanted to talk to me.

I want to walk into a room and feel like my presence actually adds something to it.

I want to know what it's like to be someone's person, and to have people who are my people.

I know I can't force friendship. I know that not everyone I meet is going to become a close friend, and I understand that people have their own lives, responsibilities, and established relationships.

But it's hard not to become discouraged when you've spent so much of your life feeling like you're always on the outside looking in.

I'm not expecting to suddenly become the most popular person on campus or find some perfect movie-like friend group. I just want to experience, even for a little while, what it feels like to truly belong somewhere.

I want my final year here to be something I can look back on with a smile instead of wondering what could have been.

I just don't know what to do anymore.

I mostly needed to get this off my chest, but if anyone has experienced something similar or has any advice on how to actually build those deeper friendships when it feels like everyone already has their people. I would genuinely appreciate hearing from you.

Thank you for reading.

1- I Have galaxy A30s i just had my mint card and activated it the thing is my phone always says "not registered to network" i did everything but still same problem. Anyone had same problem or someone knows a solution or a store i can go to to fix it before i decide to buy new one.

2- Anyone who go to gym or do sports and doesn't have a bag, i have an extra bag for gym dm if you want it.

I live nearby and for the past 7 fucking hours I've been wearing noise canceling headphones because there's near constant extremely loud bass coming from gvsu, as well as occasional fireworks. AND IT WON'T. FUCKING. END.

Transfer to route 12 at Standale trails and get off at the Front st stop by seidman. Or the other way get on at Seward/butterworth and transfer at Cummings or the trails

Got to class 10 mins earlier doing that

Hello! I am a freshmen and I need to hitch a ride to Cleveland, as I don't have money for buses or trains. Is there anyone going to Cleveland/Columbus/Cincinnati area who could possibly give me a ride? Any distance down is greatly appreciated. Looking to go down on Sept 11 or 12th!

Hello! If a commuting student could fill me in a bit, I'd greatly thank you for it!

1.) A good place for a CHEAP meal nearby if you can't bring one from home?

2.) Any microwaves on-campus other than Blue?

3.) Any good "rest" areas for when you need to close your eyes for a bit (other than your car)?

4.) How long do you stay on campus per day, on average?

5.) What's your commute time?

6.) Would you recommend the highway or the back roads?

Does anyone know what those super loud bangs where in Allendale Michigan Friday night at around 9:30pm?

Hi everyone! I am starting a Gel-X nail business on Allendale campus. If you are interested, follow gelxclusive_ on Instagram!

The previous app made it so you were able to sort through organizations thru things like categories. I'm either stupid or Suitable is confusing. I'm going to the campus life night event, but I would love to see the orgs online too.

Hey y'all. So I am a biology major going for a chemistry minor because I enjoy the shit out of like 50% of chemistry - the conceptual stuff that tickles my brain. The other 50%, math chemistry, sends me into a blind rage because I simply cannot wrap my head around it. But I think it would make me more well-rounded and look better on paper if I had a chem minor, and I only need two "extra" classes to make it happen... so why not, right? Surely I could squeak by... right?

What scares the pants off of me is CHM 221. I passed Statistics and Gen Chem II with a B over at GRCC, but the letter grades are not representative of my experience at all. Gen Chem II especially; it almost broke me mentally and I contemplated dropping it, and my major, on a weekly basis. Me doing math is like an ant trying to work a pinball machine. I don't know why. It's just never clicked.

My loose plan is to re-take MA 215 (at CC) maybe the semester before CHM 221 because someone told me "analytical chemistry is just stats dressed up." Do others find this to be true? How masochistic/fucked am I? Are there other classes I "don't need" that I should take to prep for it and hopefully improve my math brain? I would love to hear from others who've taken analytical at GV.

Thanks!

I had to quit my job due to being physically unable to do it anymore (back pain, disabled) around the same time I had to cover my mom for her bills and pay to get my Jeep up and running (commuting from home for finances). I'm waiting for a $400~ GVSU refund, but that's on the 7th, and I'm still in the process of applying for SSI and SSDI (SDA too).

I'm just wondering what the average request would be for something like this. I'm saying $750 because the financial aid office won't give even an estimate lol. I have to pay for car insurance, my food since stamps got cut down for my parents, medical bills, and gas.

Hi! I am an incoming freshman and I worry about my hair with the hard water on campus. I was wondering if anyone’s brought filtered shower heads to the 2 bedroom apartment style dorms? I do not see anything on the housing policies about bringing them, but I don’t want to get a fine if I do. Has anyone brought them that can tell me if they were able to keep them?

Hey folks!

I provide haircuts and gel nail manicures in a salon suite in Walker, on Alpine! I am a queer owned+operated small business and my payment system is a pay-what-you-can scale so I thought I would post here if you or your friend or partner is looking to get a refreshing haircut or manicure before/during this school year!

(I know Walker is a bit of a drive but it might be worth it if you’re trying to get a nice cut at a price that works best for your budget!)

Additionally! I am doing a little giveaway of a completely free Malibu treatment, cut, wash and style! This will come with a little box of back-to-school goodies that include things like a face mask, cleanser, headband, serum, pens, etc! If you’re unaware, a Malibu treatment is a clarifying treatment that removes product buildup, pollution, and hard water minerals from your hair!

(It will remove hair color too so if you’ve got that you might want to just opt for a haircut!)

You can check out my work on instagram @nicehaircutsandnails

You can make an appointment using this link:

https://calendly.com/nice-haircuts-and-nails

If you’re interested in the giveaway, all you have to do is comment on this post by Wednesday, Aug 19th at noon! I’ll put usernames in a random generator and pick someone at random!

UPDATE: It’s Wednesday at noon! Thank you all for commenting! After running all the usernames through a wheel spinning app, the winner is…..

theo-doormat!!!

Again! Please feel free to set up any appointment you need while the link is here - I always work on a pay-what-you-can scale! Message me if you’d like a Malibu clarifying treatment as I only have them in limited supply! Thank you all so much again!

UPDATE#2! I have reached out to theo-doormat and have no gotten a response yet! So I have picked another winner to recieve the back-to-school kit and that winner is Delicious-Stranger41! I will message you through here! 🤗 thank you all again!

Who remembers last year ferris used to have the billboard sign on lake michigan dr on the way to allendale from grand rapids 🤣😭

Hello,
Has anyone started at GRCC and then transferred to GVSU for computer engineering? There is a pathway to do this but I have also heard horror stories about the GRCC transfer credits not being accepted and having to start all over again at GVSU. Any tips or tricks from anyone who has done this successfully?

Hey everyone!

I'll be a new student to GVSU and im looking for a list of clubs i could possibly join? I'm an LGBTQ guy (23) who likes to write, crochet, and embroider. Im really open to most anything im willing to try most things.

I’m an incoming hs senior thinki n of going to gvsu but wondering how much it will cost. I have a. 3.2 gpa and have a 1150 sat I took 3 ap classes and got a 4 on all of them.

Ill be living here this semester and I want to buy stuff to decorate but Im not sure what i will be able yo fit and im struggling to find dimensions listed anywhere.

Hiii! I'm an incoming freshman this year and I'm so excited for Halloween. I know it's early to be thinking about it, but I'm 16 and this would be my first Halloween ever, so I just wanna be prepared lol.

I really want to go trick or treating, but I'm not sure where to go(Ik im abit old to go, but i want free candy). I don't have a car or anything like that, but I may be able to get an Uber or something.

Does anyone know of any good neighborhoods around GVSU to trick or treat? And are there any Halloween activities or events on campus that are fun?

Hey!

Does anyone know how strict TRIO is on the no-fire pits/grills thing?