Being an introvert in college can be very daunting, especially when you go to a big school and don’t know anyone. Putting yourself out there and trying to make new friends can feel like the scariest thing you’ve ever had to do. College is not the same as high school, most students grew up with the same people that were in their kindergarten class. The majority of friend groups or cliques were years strong and not shifting any time soon. The fear of rejection, of not having the right “vibe”, can cause significant anxiety. Dealing with that fear positively and proactively can help you find your happy place in this big new world, as well as find YOUR purpose. Everyone is doing the same thing as you—trying to find themselves their “group” in this environment. Here are three ways to become a part of the college community and make new friends.
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Sit next to someone you have never met in class.
Going into a new class can be frightening when you don’t know anyone. First impressions can make or break a friendship. People feed off of vibes, but like I said before they are just as scared as you. Smiling at someone can be the first step of an invitation to a friendship. As scary as it sounds, making friends in the classroom is one of the easiest ways to put yourself out there to make new bonds.
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Join an organization.
Usually in bigger colleges, there are always people trying to push joining an organization on you. They’ll say, “You will find a home here in this organization, You will make new and great friends, You will love this organization because…” Even though they might be annoying and sometimes overbearing, they are correct in some ways. Joining an organization can be a great way to make new friends, but it will also give you a chance to put your down time into something that actually matters to you. Time between classes in college gives you a lot of time to do nothing, but joining an organization can allow you to become open to new possibilities. You’ll also become more organized.
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Stop saying no to new things.
Being an introvert, it is easy to say no to going out with friends, eating out in the dining hall, or going to a sports game, and instead staying in your dorm room while apartment watching, Netflix, YouTube, or scrolling through social media. Don’t let your fear of meeting new people keep you from going out and making new friends that could last a lifetime and make your scary college campus a little smaller. Start saying yes. Even if you don’t want to, say yes. It’s the first step to breaking that cycle of fear and rejection, and allowing you to make friends that you will never forget.
Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone can seem hard at first, but it’s totally worth it in the end. Making those new friendships and bonds will make that big university seem less scary and that small college not so lonely. People think going to college is all about school, well that’s not true. Going to college is an experience that you will only experience once in a lifetime and you don’t want to waste the opportunity. Say yes!