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Photo: Dennis Wise
One thing we've heard from students is that it's a lot easier to make friends with people who share your interests once you're in a major. Until then, however, it can be challenging, especially if you’re taking large lecture courses where it may be difficult to get to know your classmates.
Some people get lucky and instantly bond with roommates, or teammates, or find the community they're looking for in an RSO. If you're still feeling like you haven't met your peeps, however, don’t give up. Finding true friends takes time, patience, and a little effort. Following are some strategies that might pay off.
First, look for opportunities to have increasingly more substantive conversations with others over time. Over the course of a quarter, classes, and maybe study groups are two places you're likely to see the same people repeatedly. Try to learn more about the people around you each time you meet. Strategies include:
Second, express your values. Often the people we “click” with are people who share our values or interests, or who have similar personality traits or life experiences. The values or experiences that count, however, may not be visible from the outside. Look for ways that people elect to show what they care about–joining RSOs, volunteering, participating in certain events–and do the same. Get to know some people in these environments, and ask them to introduce you to other people they know. The more broad your interactions, the more likely you’ll eventually find the folks that make you feel at home.
Finally, be open. You never know when a shared experience (missed bus?) will lead you to discover that you and a stranger have something deeply meaningful in common.