You know that uncomfortable feeling you get when you walk into a party and realize you don’t know anyone there? That’s the same feeling you get going into college as a freshman – except it lasts for weeks. As an out-of-state student who was the only person from my graduating class to attend Hofstra, I knew the first few days would not be easy. Thankfully, Hofstra keeps its freshmen very busy during Welcome Week. While the week’s events were corny for the most part, they were a good way to force students to be active on campus and, by extension, make friends.
The club fair was one of the most crucial parts of Welcome Week for me and many other freshmen. Despite its loud and unorganized nature, it was the easiest way to see the hundreds of opportunities there are for students to get involved on campus. I got involved with multiple clubs through the club fair, but the organization that has enhanced my freshman experience the most is by far the Student Government Association.
While the prospect of having to get elected into SGA was daunting at first, I knew that if I put myself out there, the end result would be worth it. Countless campaign posters and Facebook posts later, I was officially sworn in as a student senator. The other SGA members have all been so welcoming to us new senators and I’ve made so many new friends through this organization. The initial anxiety that came with the election process has proven to be well worth it.
While clubs and organizations are great tools to help ease the transition into college life, a lot of connections can be made without leaving your residence hall. The first few days after moving in, a couple of my friends and I were unhappy with the lack of connection between everyone in our building. It seemed to us that once people were in their rooms, they’d just shut the door and choose not to socialize much outside of their room or suite.
To combat this self-imposed isolation, my friends and I knocked on every single door in our building, introduced ourselves to everyone who answered and let them know that they were always welcome to hang out with us. Since then there has been a lot more socialization between the people in our building. Many of us now cook dinner together, work on homework together and we even all congregate to watch “American Horror Story” on Wednesday nights as a family.
It seems to me that the key to a successful transition into college life as a freshman is just to put yourself out there at every opportunity. From running for SGA, to knocking on doors and introducing yourself, I’ve learned that taking every chance you can to meet new people is the quickest way to make friends. Remember that everyone around you is just as anxious to make friends as you are – especially during the first semester of freshmen year. Confidence is key.
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