Finding people that have similar interests can be difficult, especially in college. In my personal experience, I’ve found that it is hard to find friends that want to do the same things that you do. Having friends that might not like the same things is great too, but sometimes it’s fun to have a workout buddy or someone who wants to grab food after class. This is exactly why I decided to try new techniques for making friends at school who share my interests. Here are the best methods that I’ve discovered:
- Do An Activity You Like And Meet People There
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Whether you like reading by the Kuruvungna Steps or going for a morning run there’s probably someone else who is doing the same thing. Some good advice bestowed upon me was if you want to go do something, just go and you’ll meet some friends along the way. This is a small example, but I love grocery shopping. It can be so therapeutic for me, but a lot of people don’t enjoy it the way I do. Hence, I end up going and getting just a few things a couple of times a week instead of all at once and most of my friends don’t want to go (which is very reasonable). So, when I go I smile at everyone and end up meeting lots of people just by talking about what stuff we both got or even how their day is going. This applies literally everywhere and most people are pretty nice and looking for friends too.
- Join A Club
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I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: join a club. There is a club that will fit your schedule and is about something you enjoy on campus. We have lots to choose from at UCLA! On the school’s website, you can find clubs ranging from culture to religion to snowboarding and so on, and most clubs aren’t exclusive and don’t cost much, which is great. I have met some very nice people in the clubs that I’ve joined and it has really helped me come out of my anti-social rut after covid. This is highly recommended, and I guarantee you’ll find something fun to do and meet new people.
Tiffany Meh / Spoon - Confidence
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Okay, we all know that feeling that you get when you go to present something in class where your stomach starts to hurt and your face gets red. Unfortunately, no matter who you are there is some version of this that is relatable. Keep this in mind when you’re seeking out new friends! You might feel awkward walking up to someone and starting a conversation out of thin air. Honestly, you probably will get a little bit of that nauseous feeling, but other people get that feeling when they have to walk up to someone too. This has been so helpful for me to reflect on because it can be hard to put yourself out there, that’s why most people don’t approach others no matter if they are looking for friends at that moment or not. Taking the pressure off of them and being a little vulnerable by saying something as simple as “wow, I really like your shirt!” can make all the difference. Think back to a time when someone complimented you or asked how your day was, did it make you happy and want to talk to them? Most of the time the answer is “yes” so hype yourself up and know that other people are just as shy as you are.
Finding new friends can be challenging, but if you put yourself out there you’ll meet some wonderful people. We have an amazing campus that fosters so many unique opportunities to meet people so take advantage of it!! Above all know that you can be independent and do things on your own, but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve friends. As Wayne Gretzky says in one of my favorite quotes, “You miss one-hundred percent of the shots you don’t take.”