Ask Rachelle: Making Friends

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Question:

This is my first quarter at Bellevue College. I came here completely alone. It’s the second week and I still don’t know anyone. How do I meet people and make friends?

 

 

I had trouble making friends my first few weeks at Bellevue College. I was the only one of my friends to go to a two-year school, so when I heard about all their new adventures and friends, it was hard for me to understand why I didn’t have any similar stories.

But it wasn’t me, it was my circumstances. My friends were all attending four-year colleges.      They lived on campus and their classmates constituted of other college kids all roughly the same age, coming from, experiencing and going towards similar situations.

They were always surrounded by people with so much in common that they didn’t really have a choice but to make friends.

The college experience at BC is completely different. As a commuter school, we don’t live on campus so we’re limited to seeing other students only during class or around campus. Since so many people come to BC to transfer, finding people that you have something in common with and who are looking to make lasting relationships can be rather difficult. Especially since the actual student body includes many Running Start and adult students creating a very stratified community. But just because it’s harder to make friends doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

At the end of the day, BC is still a college campus. There are thousands of students streaming on and off campus daily that have something in common with you. But if you wait for them to come to you, you’ll be waiting for a while.

Meeting new people is easy. Although it’s one of the more nerve-wracking alternatives, striking up a conversation with someone in class is always an option. But it is class and squeezing in conversations during lectures could be tough.

The easiest way to meet new people is by pursuing your passions. I guarantee you’ll find someone you’ll get along with.

Whether based on your culture or hobbies, BC has tons of clubs and programs that are bound to coincide with your interests. It’ll give you the chance to build your resume and meet new people simultaneously!

Over my last five quarters at Bellevue College, I’ve made many new friendships. It took longer than most of my friends at other colleges, and the relationships I’ve formed are different than theirs. But I’m also transferring out BC three years sooner than my friends are leaving their schools.

I know many BC students who have met their best friends in classes and clubs—it all depends on the kinds of relationships you want to build. But it’s completely possible and with a little effort, you’ll have plenty of friends in no time; just keep trying!