Meeting new people, throughout the year

One of the most exciting and anxiety provoking aspects of being at college is the opportunity to meet new people and to develop new friendships. Meeting new people can be anxiety provoking and it may be hard to figure out where to go to meet new people. Often people think that freshman year is the only time and opportunity that they will have to meet new people;this is definitely not true. There are many reasons people may need to make new friendships: friends graduating, being new to Rose, wanting to expand your experiences, looking for something to do, and many more. The key to meeting new people and to developing new friendships is to be proactive. If you expect others to come find you, you run the risk of missing an opportunity that you may have found, had you taken the initiative.

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to meet new people, such as joining a club or other campus organization or going to a place where other people are and mingling. There are numbers of organizations available to students on campus and many opportunities are presented through campus wide e-mails. Taking that first step can be both anxiety provoking and empowering. Even making the effort to go someplace outside of your comfort zone can create feelings of accomplishment.

Now that you are thinking about meeting new people, what can you do to help create a connection and build on that to develop a friendship? It is important to be aware of body language that lets others know you are interested in talking with them. Remember to smile, although this may be hard if you are feeling nervous because looking friendly can make it easier for others to approach you. Second, avoiding crossing your arms or standing with your back turned toward someone if you wish to talk with them. Keeping your posture open invites people to approach you, it says “I am friendly” whereas closed posture tends to say “leave me alone.” Another important thing to keep in mind is to maintain a comfortable level of eye contact. Too little says “I am not interested” but too much can be disconcerting to others. Lastly, remember to listen to what the other person is saying, be interested in them as much as you want them to be interested in you. If you focus all the conversation on yourself, people may get the wrong idea and think you are selfish.

As a final thought, remember, developing a new friendship may feel uncomfortable for the both of you. Conversations may be awkward, but this does not mean that your attempt was a bust. New friendships take time to become comfortable. Keep positive and keep trying to meet new people, it will soon become more comfortable and you will be able to focus on the excitement of learning about someone new instead of the anxiety.

This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or disorder. Nor is it intended to replace a consultation with a mental health provider.