New life, new friends

College can be fun if you have friends that make the entire experience worthwhile reports Samir Parikh

Everyone says college is one of the best phases of your life. These are times that you will cherish forever. The friends you’ll make, the fun you’ll have will last you a lifetime and you will reminisce about this all your life. The most significant part of this is friends. They are essential to making this time happy and fun-filled. Many of you may be feeling anxious about how you would make friends, how you would approach them. Here’s some help on that score.

Be open to new people
The first step to making friends is being open to new experiences and new people. You need to have a mindset that is open and permits you to look for and enjoy college life. The more open you are to new people, the easier your transition to a new life is likely to be.

Be proactive
Take an active interest in people around you. Try and be more interested in developing connections. Don’t forget that unless you talk to people and mingle with them you won’t really know about their interests and whether you can gel with them.

Make plans
As a newcomer you need to try and develop more plans for group activities. Understand where you fit in and what things people you click with would want to do in a group.

Be subtle in your approach
Remember, you need to take things slow. Don’t be too pushy. First try and establish a rapport with your batchmates. It’s only later (when you have figured out people and things) that you should assert yourself. Initially, take it easy as you establish rapport.

Remain connected
Even though you are looking forward to developing new connections, don’t forget about your friends and acquaintances from school etc. Maintaining connections will help you bridge the gap between what existed and the new experiences that await you.

Socialise more
Attend parties, sports events and special gatherings where people find opportunities to socialise. Open up to new cultures, ideas and values. Invite people to join you for a bite to eat and a drink. Joining a sports team or an in-house club can also help.

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The author is a psychiatrist, and chief, Department of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, Max Healthcare