Welcome back, advice lovers. If your New Year’s resolution was to finally get someone to weigh in on whatever’s been on your mind, you’re in the right place. This week, we’re talking about changing dynamics in 2026: friend groups, romantic lives and everything in between. And as always, if you have a problem I didn’t answer, submit it to this anonymous form, and I’ll help you out.

I’m feeling kind of stuck in my current friend group with my roommate and some of their friends. But it feels like it’s already too late to branch out and that all these big first-year friend groups have already been established and set in stone. I’m also finding the social life and going-out culture here hard since everything seems to be off campus, which makes me feel like I should have a big group to go out with.

While it might feel like everyone has their friends figured out by Thanksgiving, first-year friend groups change all the time, especially once everyone starts getting involved in clubs and activities. If you’re looking to branch out, it can take some of the pressure off of trying to find a completely new group if you instead try to get closer to just one person or two people outside your friend group — maybe it’s someone who lives on your floor or that you know through a club. Doing something as simple as grabbing coffee or a meal regularly can help you socialize outside your current friend group and reduce some of the feelings of being stuck. And, while a lot of social life happens off campus, you don’t always need a big group to have a good time. Going out with even just a couple of friends can be really fun and make you feel more connected with them than you would in a much larger group. It’s easy to feel like everything’s decided from now until you graduate, but remember that friend groups and social situations are constantly changing. If you’re not happy with your social life now, take this time to experiment and figure out which people and activities you enjoy, and then spend more time engaging with them.

My friend recently got into a relationship and now every time I tell her anything, it gets passed on to her girlfriend. It’s so frustrating because I want to keep some things between us, but I don’t know how to ask her to stop without offending her or making it seem like I don’t trust her girlfriend. It’s gotten to the point where I don’t want to tell her anything personal, but I miss our conversations and I wish I could still share things the same way without feeling like I’m not important to her anymore. 

It can be frustrating to feel like your friend is neglecting her other relationships for her new girlfriend, but the best way to return to your old friendship dynamic is to bring up how you’ve been feeling with her. By framing your desire for privacy as something you’d appreciate from her, and not as a personal issue with her girlfriend, you can make the conversation seem less like an accusation and avoid putting your friend on the defensive. If she’s not receptive or feels like you’re making a personal attack, it might be time to back off from sharing anything you aren’t comfortable with her girlfriend or anyone else knowing to prevent hurt feelings all around. Treating your friends with respect is just as important as creating romantic connections, but this can be easy to forget. Often, people just need a reminder that not everyone is comfortable having their personal information shared with their friends’ partners. Be honest with your friend about how much your connection means to you — your words may be the wake-up call she needs to define some boundaries in what she shares with her girlfriend and how she treats her friends. 

Over the last couple months I’ve gone on two dates with a girl I know, and at this point, I feel like I have to make a decision about where I see things going. I had a good time on the dates but I don’t think I want a long-term relationship right now. I don’t want to keep leading her on, so how should I approach this without being rude?

Once again, honesty is the best policy. Going on two dates with someone doesn’t obligate you to pursue any long-term commitment, so if you’re sure you’re not interested in anything serious, it’s best to tell her directly before either of you invests more time and energy into a relationship that isn’t going anywhere. The point of first and second dates is to see if you’re compatible with each other, and it seems like you’ve realized the two of you aren’t a great match right now. Sending a text saying that you had a great time on your past dates, but you don’t see things progressing to another date, makes your feelings clear in a kind way, allowing you both to end your connection respectfully.

Caroline Brown is a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences. This is the eighth installment of her column “Calling in With Caroline.”