Making friends on campus

RACHEL FIORET

The University of Guelph is a great place to meet people and make new friends. Although most students are excited to meet people again, we have to prepare ourselves for the campus atmosphere to feel different.

After losing some time in person, we’re finally back. Things are looking like they might return to normal. But your social skills may not be the same as they were in 2019.

Anxiety around vaccines, social distancing, and online communication has and will continue to pose a challenge for us. However, we can still try our best to meet new people and enjoy ourselves safely.

Striking up a conversation with a peer in class is the starting point to making new friends on campus. Because each course you take often reflects an aspect of your interests, you can meet people who care about similar things.

It’s also a good idea to create study groups for midterms and final exams with your classmates to not only get to know people, but help improve your comprehension and grades in the process.

Attending seminars and labs can also be a great chance to make friendships, since you are often assigned groups and assignments forcing you to challenge your comfort zone and work with other students. These are the best chances to listen to your classmates’ thoughts and questions and dive into deep conversations on topics derived from lectures.

If you’re finding it challenging to connect to people in your classes or program, try reaching out to the program counsellor for department-specific clubs. This will allow you to meet students in each year of your major.

Joining a club is one of the best ways to interact with others on campus because it gives you the chance to enjoy school culture without the stress of coursework or being in class.

The Central Student Association at the U of G hosts over 100 clubs, from the Gryphons Read Book Club to the Korean Pop Club. If sports are more your thing, you can join some intramural teams at the Athletics Centre, such as innertube water polo or pickleball.

The campus gym can be a great place to meet people, whether you enjoy independent or group exercise. If you’re new to the gym, there are weekly workout classes offered where you can try pilates, yoga, aquafit, and cardio. Before each class starts, everyone lines up to go in.

This could be a chance to meet people who have a similar schedule and with whom you can workout together. For those who prefer working out alone, the gym has a variety of equipment to use, and you can easily approach other students around you to chat about workout routines.

The campus provides undergraduate and graduate students with a variety of work and volunteer opportunities for all skill sets. If you get a job on campus or sign up to become a volunteer, you are sure to expand your opportunities to make new friends.

Some volunteer opportunities include becoming an academic peer helper or working for the note-taking service at Student Accessibility Services. Employment positions can be found across campus, from working as a cashier at the Bullring café to signing up for a work-study program to get firsthand experience in your field.

Guelph students can enjoy their beautiful campus during the fall semester when the weather is optimum and there’s a variety of places to sit or walk outside. You can bring a blanket to Johnston Green, hang out in Branion Plaza, or go for a walk by the Dairy Bush and see some cows.

Getting together outdoors can be the best way to spend time with new friends because you can safely distance and ensure everyone feels comfortable. It also gives you the chance to explore the school grounds and see everything it has to offer. Although it might be more challenging to reach out to new friends right now, there are a variety of options to meet and talk to people.

Joining a club is a great way to meet students with similar interests. CREDIT: UNSPLASH

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