I used to think I would never find my people, and now I have. Friendships are no different than relationships, you shouldn’t have to settle. Once you find people who make you feel comfortable, safe and loved, you’ll know what having a true friend feels like.
Look for supportive friends. When my friends found out I joined Her Campus, they checked the website daily, hoping to find my first article posted. That’s true friendship. Finding supportive friends isn’t always easy, but when your friends encourage you to do the things you love, support your interests, listen when you talk and truly understand you, then you know you have the right ones.
My mom always said that by going to places you like and hold an interest in, you’ll find others doing the same. For example, if you love books and you go to a bookstore, everyone else in there loves books. This provides a built-in conversation starter such as, “oh I love that book”, or “if you like this author, I would recommend reading this”. This simple sentence could lead to a lifelong friendship. Making an effort is half the process. A great way to find new friends is by sitting in a different spot every class and introducing yourself to new people. Think of it like friend shopping!
I joined Her Campus as a way to meet new people. My major is communications so I knew joining a club with other writers would increase my chance of meeting people who had the same major. So, try to join a club! It’s a great way to meet people and looks great on a resume. I also suggest joining a team, it can feel great to be a part of something and bonds will form over time.
There’s no time limit on making friends. In high school, I never really clicked with anyone. I thought that I would feel that way forever. The first day I came to university, I knew instantly that feeling would go away. It wasn’t because I moved cities or was putting myself out there more, it was because I met some truly amazing people. I got lucky! However, I do believe that to attract the right kind of people, we have to know what we’re looking for. It’s more of a feeling than a list of good qualities a friend should have. We all know that gut feeling that tells us something is off or not meant for us, make sure you listen to it. Don’t force yourself to be friends with bad people just because it’s your only option. You are much better off alone than with bad influences. This way you can work on yourself without negative energy and attract the right kind of people.
People aren’t as scary as they seem, so don’t feel intimidated. Most people are always willing to meet new friends I mean, who says no to friendship? You should never feel like you have to put up a facade to get people to like you. You won’t find authentic friends if you’re not being authentic yourself. Have the right mindset and the right people will come to you. Real people attract real people, so keep that in mind while friend shopping!
Shoutout to Ben, Sandy, Zay, Bridget, Sara, Eli, Rafay, Abiramie, Rupert and Doug for being truly amazing people.