How to: Make Friends After College By Dalton McMillan College Avenue Magazine Many students will graduate this year and find themselves in a new location, city or a new field. Some will find themselves at a loss in their social life and will seek out new friends or a new social group. But just how does one make friends after college? When I was younger my mother used to say, “Show yourself as friendly” as she dropped me off at an unfamiliar place. But as I got older, it was easy to notice that making friends only becomes more difficult with age and being ‘friendly’ just sometimes isn’t enough. This is largely due to many reasons. As we grow older, we become more narrow-minded. We quickly learn what we do and do not like, especially with friendships. Not only that, but time becomes more valuable. For
those in a serious relationship or for those who are highly social, they may not be able to add anything else to their plate,
people near you who have similar interests. Be thankful that you live in a technological world; use it to your advantage. Connecting
with people is easier now than it ever has been. Be yourself, be friendly, and you will do just fine. If you find yourself in some
remote location such as Wyoming, well you may find yourself talking to a tree or even the wind. My advice: Do not move to Wyoming.
“Friendship is a kaleidoscope and [a] complicated thing.” –Cicero because after all, friendships take time. As an individual who has taken multiple years off of college, I can tell you that one of best ways to make friends is to do what you love, and put yourself out there. Join a club, play recreational sports, volunteer at a nonprofit, be adventurous, and try new things. These are just a few of the many things you can do to gain friends. There are even apps now such as “MeetUp” that help you find
Cory Bertlesen (left) and Daniel Class (right), met at orientation during July. They became friends after hanging out the weekend before school started. Photo by Dalton McMillan
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College Avenue Magazine | December 2015
Design | Rachael Worthington