Making friends in college can be harder than it looks. New students arrive on campus surrounded by unfamiliar faces while returning students often find themselves in classrooms filled with people they have never met. Yet building meaningful friendships is an important part of the college experience, providing students with a sense of belonging, support and community.
There is no quick and easy solution to making friends at college. On some level, everyone knows that the most reliable way to make new friends is by putting yourself out there.
At Kirkwood, this might look like spending time around students with similar interests, such as joining one of the college’s nearly 70 different clubs and organizations or even starting a conversation with the person sitting next to you in class.
These are both proactive measures to develop new acquaintances and possibly friends but these opportunities require you to put in effort and take initiative. While this can be intimidating, it becomes worth it in the end when you have someone to tackle homework with or talk to on campus.
Other ways to meet people are by attending campus events such as games, movie nights, guest speakers, concerts, and other activities. Participating in intramurals can create natural opportunities to interact without the pressure of having to “make friends.”
Something as simple as becoming a regular in a particular place on campus can create opportunities to meet new people. Study in the same area, eat in the same place or spend time in a common campus space. Seeing the same people repeatedly can make it easier to start conversations. This can be less daunting than putting yourself out there upfront.
Know that friendship doesn’t always happen right away. Give it some time. A person doesn’t become a close friend after one conversation. Friendships often develop through repeated interactions and shared experiences.
You can’t build relationships without putting in some form of effort. Even if someone approaches you, you’ll have to give a little to keep the friendship going.
It is helpful to remember that most students are in the same boat. Like you, your classmates are also learning how to navigate through a new environment, and sometimes all it takes is saying hello to begin a new friendship.
| Make meaningful connections |
| Attend campus events and activities Spend time in shared campus spaces Start a study group for a challenging course Introduce yourself to classmates before or after class Ask someone to grab coffee, lunch or a quick study break Follow up after meeting someone. Small connections can grow into friendships Join a campus club Get a on-campus job |
Categories: Opinion, Staff Editorials
