Dear OP, I have gone through the exact same thing as you are describing last year (now in third year) so I think I can offer some relevant advice. Second year can be a tough time in terms of social life because the courses are still large and alienating but there isn’t as much support and community as you get in first year. I think the important thing to know is that this is not your fault and is not contingent on your social skills or value as a person. It is a natural period which many UofT students go through as they learn to navigate the social life at this school. Do not label yourself as an “introvert” or having “social anxiety” because it is highly unlikely this is actually the case given the fact that you have friends and are concerned with making more connections with people, going to parties etc. Also, do not make assumptions about why people have disappeared from your life; often it is not because they have anything against you but because they are also extremely busy with academics and jobs etc. It is hard for anyone to maintain a good social life if you are really doing your work and keeping up with classes, no matter how amazing your social skills might be. We simply don’t have much time. Even some of the most extroverted and charming people I’ve met have admitted to becoming much quiet, lonely and awkward after spending prolonged periods alone working. So I think the first step is accepting that it is not your fault. It is not really anyone’s fault. The next step is being more proactive about your social life. If you have several friends who you like but you guys have little time to meet up, consider scheduling regular meetings for lunch or dinner every week so you can catch up. Moreover, always be open to meeting new people and consider the possibility that each new person you meet in classes or tutorials or whatever else you’re involved in could potentially be a great friend. Approach everyone with a positive attitude and openness because we are all going through the same things and if you can bring a little positivity into someone else’s life that will make both of you feel much happier. And I never assume that people don’t like you or don’t want to hang out. Someone will always be down to grab food or go to a cool event; you’d be surprised how rarely people get invited to things and how happy they are if you invite them. University social life is something you learn to navigate with time. You have to decide whether to prioritize social life or academics sometimes, but ultimately everyone needs a good network of friends to chill with when the going gets rough. You need to decide which people really matter to you and bring out the best in you and then make time for them, reach out to them, and spend more time together. This might even mean reaching out to old friends from high school, friends from work...etc. It is better to have several deep and meaningful friendships than a bunch of surface level friendships. And also, like I said, everyone at UofT is going through similar things and everyone could use a friend. When you start to see yourself as someone who can help others and bring value and happiness into their lives, your social life will improve and more people will want to hang out with you. Also, not dating at 19 is perfectly normal and you should never see relationships as a requirement or rite of passage or whatever. Moreover people at this age are incredibly immature so in my humble opinion it’s not worth wasting your time with that yet. The final thing I will underscore is how immature you and I and all of us still are. You’re still figuring out who you are and what you stand for and what kind of people you like. This is why sometimes you might feel “worthless” but you should never believe that inner voice. Just keep swimming and exposing yourself to new experiences both positive and negative ones and you will slowly start to grow and become who you are really meant to be as an adult. Then your confidence will start to rise dramatically and more people will flock to you. So I guess to sum up this long winded response, I would say, try to make the best of what you’re going through and you’ll learn to be a better friend and more kind person after you’ve gone through prolonged loneliness. You also get more comfortable with yourself and learn who you are and who you aren’t so then you’ll know who to invite into a friendship or relationship rather than choosing blindly. Learning to make yourself happy and engaging in activities on your own is always a valuable skill; exploring literature, music, sports...etc could make this period of “loneliness” a more enjoyable and transformative one. So take everything as it comes and enjoy it as much as possible even when times are rough. Remember that you’re just 19 and have a lifetime ahead of you with chances to meet so many cool people and have so many awesome friendships. This is just the beginning. :) I hope this helps somewhat. This is what I would tell myself if I could talk to the person I used to be a year ago.