As we near the middle of summer, students will soon begin preparing themselves for their return to school. Adjusting back to the academic rigor after break ends can be difficult for anyone, but it can be particularly difficult for students entering their first year of college—especially considering the uncertainty of how COVID-19 restrictions will impact their experience. As a recent college graduate myself, I’ve spent a lot of time during my first post-grad months reflecting on what I gained from my university experience, and what advice I found most valuable.
One of my biggest fears before entering college was that I would have a hard time making friends. I had known my two best friends from home literally since we were born, so I had relatively zero experience when it came to creating new, lasting friendships. When I expressed this fear to one of my high school coaches, she gave me some insightful advice: “Great friendships are built on common ground.” In other words, joining groups or clubs focused on things you enjoy is a great way to meet people who have similar interests; from there you can build a friendship upon your shared connection. This could be anything from an intramural sports team to a fraternity/sorority to a leadership club. In fact, I met my closest college friends when we all applied to be editors on the same journal! There are an infinite amount of ways you can forge friendships in college, but if you’re someone who’s not quite sure where to start, try beginning where you feel most comfortable: in a place your interests are shared.