LET’S MAKE SOME FRIENDS!!

By: Makayla Franklin

It is not a secret to anyone that coming on to campus for the first time is one of the scariest things someone will run into in college. There are so many new things to do and so many new people to meet. DO NOT FRET! This is here to help you choose from five different ways to make friends within the first two weeks you step onto campus. These steps are different pieces of advice from people who have gone through the same fear you may also be experiencing. So grab your pen and paper and let’s get to making friends!

WAY #1- Say hi to everyone you pass

• Okay, this must be looked at with reason. Within the first two weeks, there are many people who will be walking or hanging around campus by themselves. The best people to talk to are the ones who are hanging out by the residence halls or in the Student Union by themselves. The people you say hi to, do not have to be your best friend, which is okay. Saying hi to people you pass will allow for others to remember you, and then will want to talk the next time they see you. I promise even if people act like they do not want you to say hi, there are many people who will love a “hello”!

WAY #2- Find different clubs to get involved with

• This is one that everyone will tell you. Don’t be afraid to get involved on campus! There are so many different clubs and activities to get involved in, and there is one for everyone. There is not one club here at UNLV that would not welcome you with open arms and smiles on their face. Every student organization here at UNLV is always looking for new members, and new friends to make. Don’t be shy and go to at least one club meeting within your first two weeks on campus. Even if you do not go back, I am sure you will meet at least one person there!

WAY #3- Socialize in class

• This is one of the harder ways to make friends. It is very scary to talk in class, which is completely understandable. On the other hand, if you are wondering to yourself if you should talk to someone, odds are they are thinking the same thing, so you should be the first one to speak! The people you see in class are going to be people you see very frequently, so why not get to know some of them a little bit more. And who doesn’t love a good study buddy or study group! I promise, class is the best place to make friends!

WAY #4- Look for UNLV in bios

• Okay, I understand the whole going out of your way to talk to someone is not for everyone. Soooo, I have found a way for you to connect over social media. Since there is a large majority of people who use social media, why not use it to make friends. It is very usual and popular for college students to put their school in their social media bio (I am one of those people)! If UNLV is in their bio, you most definitely should reach out and introduce yourself. In return, you should also put UNLV in your bio, and watch how many people will reach out. This is a more informal approach to making friends, but works every time!

WAY #5- If you live on campus, don’t be afraid to reach out to your neighbors

• If you are living on campus, meeting your neighbors is a great way to make friends. You all will be living next to each other for the rest of the year, so you might as well take this time to get to know them. The resident halls are a very good place to find people in your same classes or major. You would be surprised how many people you can meet just by knocking on the doors of people who live on your floor.