READ THE LATEST

Making and keeping friendships can be a challenge in university. You get so caught up in your studies, assignments, and classes that you may sometimes forget to connect with your fellow students.

Many students confess to feeling lonely and stressed due to academic pressure, so much so that they struggle with socialization. It’s understandable; you are in a new place, and you are starting fresh. It takes time and effort to meet and make friends with new people.

If you have no idea where to start, here are our eight tips to make the process smooth:

1. Start Socializing

Sure, you’re more comfortable spending most of your free time in your home, one of the off-campus rooms for rent in Barrie Ontario. But if you want to make friends, you have to step outside your living space and socialize.

Yes, we all need a time out between back-to-back classes and work but socializing is an excellent way to unwind and destress. Plus, you get a chance to meet new people, make friends, and have fun.

2. Take a Lead in Starting Conversations

It’s a good idea to take the lead in conversing with a new person every day. It could be someone who lives down the hall, a new fellow student, your local coffee shop barista, or someone you sat next to on the bus.

While small talk can be challenging for some people, it’s not that bad once you get started. Besides, you never know—you might be helping someone who’s having a rough day.

3. Start an On-Campus Job

For most students, on-campus jobs are the best way to meet new people and make friends — especially after you’ve exhausted the social club scene. On top of that, an on-campus job allows you to get professional experience, make a little extra money, and have networking opportunities.

4. Join a Club

No matter your reasons for joining a club and the type of club, it presents you with an opportunity to socialize, network, and make friends.

Just be sure that the club type resonates with your interests. This will lead you to meet like-minded people, opening more doors of opportunities for both parties.

5. Participate in Sports Activities

Let’s face it: We’re less likely to make friends in our class. This is because we’re too busy studying or getting our homework done. But in sports, we’re out there having fun. We’re sweating and cheering and having a good time.

And it doesn’t matter whether you are good at a sport or not because not everyone on the pitch is a professional sportsperson. Most students play sports to have fun, meet new people, and make friends.

6. Start Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to make new friends, especially if you’re new to a city. It allows you to meet new people and expand your social network.

Volunteering also lets you rethink your priorities and get a break from school, except this break only adds to your credibility. In addition, you get to team up with people and work for a meaningful, common cause together.

7. Join an Exercise Class

Another way to see new faces is to join a fun exercise class! Exercise classes offer you the best of both worlds. It’s super easy to make new friends and have fun while getting in shape.

Exercise classes also offer you the opportunity to find out what everyone likes to do, what their fitness goals are, how they got started with exercise, and so on. The class may involve cardio, strength training, yoga, dancing, Zumba, Pilates, or a mix of all of these.

8. Get Involved in Student Government

Student government can be a significant part of your university experience. It can help you develop important leadership skills and management experience. The best part: you get the chance to meet new people, network, and make friends.

Also, you can get a voice in decisions that affect you, your fellow students, and the overall university life. As a student trustee, you’ll have the opportunity to host events, socialize, work on committees, and vote on major decisions affecting your campus.