getting to know people

j.project
Thu, 20 Jul 2006 21:39:11 +0000

liveforindie - I was just curious about how long it took you guys to make friends at your respective colleges…and did those friends become those like “lifelong” kind of friends?

I guess you meet a lot of people in the dorms. They make dorm life sound very social…like as soon as you walk in you are surrounded by people who want to get to know you, and vice versa.

Yes, definitely. Anyone in their freshman year at a university or a four-year college should really live in dorms or, as my university calls them, residence halls. I stopped leaving my door open when a neighbor started visiting too frequently. The added presence in the room just became too distracting.

I noticed that it’s usually adjusting to the new surroundings that’s the problem. A lot of classmates were depressed because they couldn’t bring themselves to make introductions first. They waited for others to do it or they hide behind the reason that it’s because they’re “shy.” My mindset when my shyness starts to overpower me? “What if the person you want to meet is just as shy as you are?” I balance my introversion with some extroversion because doing so is healthy.

The easiest way for me last year was through same classes. Some of these people eventually did turn out to be friends that are probably my lifelong friends. Of course, I just try to flow with things. Sometimes, some relationships just don’t work out (because of a misunderstanding or the parting of ways just happened naturally) and when they don’t, it’s alright.