What Is A Good Support Network, Tips For University Students 

We all need to have good support. This is not just when you are studying in college. Even while you are still young, a positive support network is necessary for a number of reasons.  

As cliché as this may sound, no man is an island. We need others so we can survive and thrive. Some of the benefits of surrounding yourself with good people are the following.  

• You can cope easily whenever there are challenges.  
• You become confident.  
• You are less scared to face uncertainties.  
• You are less stressed.  
• You live a healthier life, in general.  

What Is A Good Support Network?  

You might think that when you are hanging out with a group of people, that’s already your support group. But take note that support is multi-faceted. One group can be your emotional support, others can be your informational support, and another team can be self-boosting support, etc. Let’s talk about the different types below.  

Emotional Support  

These are the people whom you can call when you are emotionally drained. Usually, you pour your heart out and they let you cry or vent out. With them, you can share your secrets and you trust that they will keep them.  

Informational Support  

When we say informational support, they give you a different perspective about the things happening around you. You can talk about your problems and be able to find a solution which you were blinded to consider.  

Self-esteem Boosting Support  

There are days when you doubt yourself and you feel that you are always a failure. This type of support group will tell you that you are more than capable of doing big things. They will remind you about your strengths.  

Social Support  

If you want to do something about your life and you want to become more adventurous, they are up for it. They will support you and even join you with your plans.  

Respect When They Can’t Immediately Come To You  

There will be days that your support group cannot go to you right away. But this doesn’t mean that they don’t value you. And you have to respect that as well. After all, we have different obligations. Avoid being too demanding or needy because no one wants a toxic friend to begin with.  

We talked about what a good support network is. And while it’s good to find one, make sure that you don’t act as a parasite. To be able to build a good relationship, you must also be a valuable support to those who need you as well. You cannot expect people to treat you the way you wanted to be treated if you show them otherwise.  

How Can You Find A Support Group?  

There are many ways to build your support network. Obviously, you can start with your family. But we do understand that there are different family dynamics. Unfortunately, in some cases, you cannot rely on them. But that’s fine as there are other people who can serve as your support.  

Your friends could also part of your core support network. But please use your better judgment when choosing your friends. Maybe you will be gravitated towards a ‘fun’ group where they are always happy and partying. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that. But if they are doing nothing but to have ‘fun’, then you might want to reassess. Will they be there whenever you are down? Can they genuinely show their care if you are not as happy as they are?  

The workplace can also be a venue to find support and it’s good that you are aware of it as early as now. So whenever you are to work in an office, choose a clique that is always positive and ready to help you when you have problems. Stay away from credit grabbers or those who would rejoice when you are not at your best.  

Online support groups are also available nowadays. Let’s thank technology for allowing people from different parts of the globe to support one another. You can find communities over the internet where you can openly share your challenges. From there, you can get tips on how to deal with it.