How to make friends in Olympia
It made me
Feel worthwhile 
"I came out of self-imposed exile, pushed myself into some extra curriculars, and had a blast!"
How I did it: I've always been a friendly person. I try to keep a smile on my face, appear as approachable as possible, and really let people in. However, when I left for college, there was some sort of sea change in my personality, and it made it a lot harder for me to make friends. So when I transferred schools, I made it a very large priority to make friends.
Sometimes making friends in class is hard. While there is the opportunity for outside study groups, where food, friends, and textbooks can go hand in hand, there is also a strange sense of competition that drives a class. There is also the fact that socializing and lecturing do not work well together. For this reason, I felt is necessary to participate in some extra curricular activities.
During the first week of classes, every club is highly visible on campus, recruiting new members. I joined anything that sounded interesting. As the weeks went on, I stopped showing up to things that I really didn't enjoy. This allowed me to experience as much as possible while keeping free time for myself for homework, work, and my own sanity.
I also auditioned for a play. While I've acted before, the audition process was a little nerve racking for me, as I hadn't been on stage or read from a script since high school. I powered through it, was cast, and next thing you know, I've got people I see every day, who I share my life with, who I smile and laugh with. I made friends!
Lessons & tips:
- The reason they're called friends is because you have to be friendly. Smile, be confidant, and don't worry if you try to connect with someone who doesn't want to reciprocate. Just grit your teeth and move on to another club, activity, or group of people, and keep at it. Stay determined!
- Be as open and accessible as possible. This means no iPod earbuds when you're on public transit or wandering campus. Carry a good book on you to read and to spark conversation.
- Speak up in class. Not only will the professor grade you well for participation, but people will know who you are and want to learn more about you. In college, you can't say anything dumb. You're paying to learn - it doesn't matter what you say, you're getting an education.
- Do things in public. Eat your lunch on the green, study in the library. Leave space around you to seem welcoming. If you're at a big table all by yourself, someone may want to join you. Even if they're there to study as well, you may end up striking small talk, and next thing you know, you may have made a new friend!
Resources:
- Check out your campus office of student life. They'll have listings of all school sanctioned clubs, meeting times, requirements, etc.
