Making New Connections
Take it from me — making friends can be a challenge anywhere you go, especially if you’re an introvert. The younger you are, the easier it tends to be. Many of us automatically find a friend group in high school, especially if we went to elementary or middle school with the same people, or if we share bonds based on similar interests. Making friends in college is a different story. There is no longer the comfort of being in familiar territory, and old high school connections may not be there to talk with anymore. It’s up to you to find friends all over again — and it takes serious guts to approach someone and ask if they want to hang out! That said, if you put yourself out there, then before you know it, you will develop all of the tools you need to find friends both in college and in life.
When I began my first semester at Eastern Florida State College, I didn’t have anyone to talk to or go out with. I had just moved to Brevard, and I was in a strange new place where I didn’t know anybody. I was trying to find my passion in life without having my friends there to lean on. I quickly realized that college is harder without a support group, whether for studying or for blowing off steam. I knew I needed to make some new friends, and for that to actually happen, I would have to pave the path myself. This meant stepping outside of my comfort zone. No one was going to take that step for me.
I started in my classes. If I found myself sitting next to someone who seemed nice, I would begin with a question about the coursework, then I would introduce myself and go from there. Once I am on a first-name basis with someone, I find it becomes easier to build the foundation of a friendship by sharing anecdotes. I always get a nervous pit in the bottom of my stomach when I’m trying to make new friends, but sometimes telling someone a random, weird fact about yourself (such as “Hi, I’m Abbey, and I enjoy playing bingo!”) is all it takes to open the door to a meaningful, lifelong friendship. If you’re in the same boat and looking for friends, give this strategy a try! I bet you will surprise yourself and learn that taking risks socially is a great skill to have in life. As strange as that sounds, it has helped me to gain both relationships and jobs. It’s even pertinent to my major, Event Management, which is a field that constantly requires you to network and make new connections.
When it comes to socialization, everyone is different and unique in their own way. For me, forming friendships started with going up to strangers and telling them my name. For you, it might mean randomly partnering up with a classmate for a science lab, or maybe joining a club on campus. A big part of being in college is having friends to make memories with — and some of them will make good study buddies, so it can also be beneficial in an academic sense. Remember that ultimately, you decide what kind of life you want to lead, and life is all about the connections you make along the way. Personally, my new friends have been there for me through my ups and downs at EFSC, and I feel very lucky to have them.
- Making New Connections - May 8, 2019
