Written by Sophia Dragoo.
It’s no secret that making friends at college can be hard, and finding spaces to make new connections can be nearly impossible. To find a solution, faculty and students came together to bring a UK-originated concept to UCF.
On October 7th, the Office of Student Involvement and Collaboration hosted an event focused on ending social isolation by connecting students and giving them a space to do so.
Coffee, hot chocolate, and other treats were provided, alongside coloring sheets for students, as they were encouraged to chat. The event appeared to be a success based on the number of conversations happening between them.
“I’m someone who deals with a lot of social anxiety. So I know how it is to feel lonely in times like this… So I started [Chatty Cafe] because I really love the non-profit’s mission and helping people become more connected, and that just spoke out to me so much.” Nicole, a student volunteer at Chatty Cafe, stated.
However, halfway through the event, the fire alarm in the student union went off, and all were forced to evacuate. Most would have expected this to end the event, but as soon as they got the all clear, students were back inside and continuing their conversations and starting new ones.
For more information on future events, check out @chattycafeusa on Instagram.
