Transitioning to the New Normal Socialization: The Challenges of College Students In Building Connection During the Post-Pandemic

Human existence requires socialization to foster a sense of social connection and belongingness. However, there are environmental changes that can be a hindrance to build quality connections just like Covid-19 pandemic which leads the world to suffer from several transitions. Using a quantitative-descriptive design, the present study examines the challenges that the college students face in establishing connections after multiple transitions caused by the pandemic. This study revolves on understanding the post-pandemic style of interaction that students have adapted in terms of a) social resources, b) psychological resources, c) psychological risk factor and to learn whether there is a statistically significant variation in the post-pandemic socializing styles of different groups of respondents. Through this study, the researcher aimed to improve students' social skills and their ability to establish rapport, which had been impaired by the transitions. Purposive random sampling was used to select 146 fourth-year studentsfrom several college departments at Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation. Using a self-made three-part questionnaire. The data is also analyzed using descriptive and statistical methods. The findings revealed that students are able to construct and receive sufficient social and psychological resources, leading to successful transitions to the new normal. It was also found that the respondents experience subtle psychological risk factors and that females are more vulnerable to it. In addition the study reveals that students did not experience challenges in building conection in the new normal despite being subjected to isolation and limits.