The school my D goes to has three outdoor adventure trips the week before school starts. My D and her best friend (they aren’t rooming together) chose to go on different trips to meet different people and thought they might be able to combine the acquaintance groups. It worked out well. They ended up with about 3 other people from the trips that they now run around with regularly.
My D was walking around her floor and heard a young man playing jazz music. He had his door open and she stopped to tell him she liked the music. Another day he was in his room doing the same thing. She was on her way to dinner with her group and asked if he’d like to come along. He later texted her that he really appreciated her asking as he hadn’t really been enjoying school but it was nice for her and her friends to include him. Sometimes simple things can change perspectives.