Something I’ve had to learn throughout college is how to deal with the inevitability of being uncomfortable. Whether it’s being in a class where you don’t know anyone or interviewing for a new job, it’s impossible to avoid uncomfortable situations. However, it is possible to learn how to provide yourself with comfort to make coping with these situations more bearable.
College itself is an uncomfortable situation. Freshman year you are thrown into a new environment, potentially far from home, surrounded by new people. You have no choice but to put yourself out there to make new friends and find your place. This can be extremely stressful especially if you’re not an outgoing person. As you progress through college, you may become more comfortable in the overall environment, but the discomfort doesn’t end. Arguably, as the years have passed I’ve encountered increasingly uncomfortable situations, but I’ve also developed strategies to deal with them.
Freshman year when I would get homesick my most successful coping mechanism was to leave my dorm room and go somewhere I found comfort. Sometimes a dorm room can feel suffocating and be a reminder that you aren’t in your home bedroom. Luckily, there are plenty of spots on campus and in the town of Fairfield that serve as the perfect escape and have become my go-to spots when I need a sense of comfort.
My first comfort spot in Fairfield is Las Vetas Lounge, located right off of Post Road. Las Vetas is a coffee shop that also offers breakfast and lunch. When I enter Las Vetas I immediately feel at peace surrounded by the eccentric decor and scent of coffee brewing. After four years of frequenting the establishment, I still discover something new to love every time I go, whether it be a flavor to add to my latte or the fun mug they serve it in. This is a great spot to romanticize doing your homework while enjoying a fun beverage and coffee shop chatter. I discovered Las Vetas at the very beginning of freshman year when I needed it most and it continues to provide me comfort and a boost of motivation.
A great place to escape when you need a change of scenery but don’t want to leave campus is the library. Almost everyone has a spot in the library they gravitate toward and mine is the couch-like chairs located on the third floor by the windows. This is my favorite place to sit in the library because the windows provide natural lighting that can make you feel like you’re still enjoying a sunny day despite being stuck away studying. Additionally, the windows allow for great people watching when you need a mental break.
My next off-campus comfort place is the Fairfield University Bookstore on Post Road, specifically the Starbucks located inside. Freshman year, when my friend and I needed a break from our usual on-campus Dunkin runs, we would take the Stag Bus into town and get off at the stop for the store. We would enjoy a Starbucks drink in a less crowded environment than the on-campus or other Post Road locations. It was nice to feel the sense of Fairfield pride in the store while being slightly removed from campus.
Another place I find comfort in Fairfield is the beach. As a senior, I’m lucky enough to live on the beach and have more frequent access. Throughout my time at Fairfield whenever I felt overwhelmed a walk to the beach seemed to solve at least some of my problems. Looking out at the water has a grounding effect and being from Long Island it’s comforting to look out and see home.
While a change of scenery is sometimes necessary, my room has always provided me with a sense of comfort at school. It can be challenging to make a dorm room feel like home, but the more you personalize it, the more it may start to. In all of my living arrangements at Fairfield I’ve decorated my room with photos and wall prints to make it feel like my own. Adding lots of pillows and blankets to my bed has also helped make it a cozier space.
I now look at uncomfortable situations as an opportunity to put myself out there and learn something new about myself. It’s become a kind of exposure therapy as the more I throw myself into new situations the less nervous I am the next time one comes up. I’ve done things I never thought I’d be able to simply from saying yes instead of no. I encourage you to do the same, and keep these comfort places in mind for when you need to recharge.
