Making Friends: Advice for Freshmen

By Anna Smith on September 12, 2012

Me and two of my best friends in a 1920s era scene

I remember four years ago driving up to my dorm, the excitement of going off to college building in me. At the same time, the terror of going to school at a place where I knew no one caused anxiety and a little fear. The last time I had been in this position was kindergarten and I was unsure as to how I would make friends. I was not really prepared for this new experience of friend making and while I did well in classes, you could say that I failed at a social life. Now as a senior, I have managed to make a few close friends, but I have also had many bad experiences in doing so. Looking back on my years here at Mount Holyoke, there is some advice I wish someone had given me on how to make friends. So what is my advice for freshmen who may not have had many opportunities to practice starting afresh?

1) Join Clubs

You should join one or two clubs you are passionate about and go to the meetings regularly. My best friend and I met at a faith based club. Clubs offer students the chance to meet people with common interest. There are many options of clubs to join and, if there is not, then there is the option to form one. It is just important to keep in mind that some clubs may take more time than others, so it is a good idea to really dedicate yourself to one or two rather than overcommitting and not fully engaging in the club.

2) Talk to People in Classes

Classes are a great place to meet new people who might be in your major or with whom you share intellectual interests and passions. These are the people whom you will see most often in classes, and thus be spending most of your time around. Simply being around the same people often enough can lead to friendship, but it does not mean that you will be friends with everyone in your classes or major. However, it does mean that there is an increased likelihood of finding friends based on commonalities–friends you can converse with at a deeper level.

3) Spend Time with Roommates and Hallmates

You are likely to make friends with your roommate(s) as you spend a lot of time together. Proximity offers more opportunities to make friends with others. The more time you spend with someone the more likely you are to be friends. However, this does not necessarily mean that the people closest to you will be the people physically closest to you. The most important thing to remember when  making friends is that people change and sometimes grow closer or may grow apart and this is all part of life.  Just remember to have fun.

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