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Latch · 07-24-2003, 12:38 AM

I definitely suggest living in the dorms/on campus.

Also, this may be a bad suggestion, but alcohol makes a great social lubricant.

I'm an RA (for the second year) at my campus, and I've found that during our first weeks almost all people come to on-campus living (res) quiet, nervous, and scared. This is natural. The people that end up having a few drinks get more chatty and less nervous and scared (more brave?). This is also pretty natural for alcohol. The two things together results in people coming "out of their shell" more quickly and more easily (compared to people who don't drink/party at the beginning). Friendships that can last lifetimes begin in those first few weeks alot of the time.. and if you spend your time in your room or whatever, you may miss some of it. Not that you can't make friends after those first few weeks, but groups come together quickly (here at least), and it can be harder to join sometimes.

I'm not encouraging you should drink all the time, but if there's some people sitting around having a few drinks watching TV, embrace it. Grab a beer, sit down, and watch TV with them. If there's a party, go to it. Even if you don't drink alot, you're still there being seen.

Mainly, get onto res/dorms, and don't hang out in your room alone.

07-24-2003, 12:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
Latch In Your Dreams Location: City of Lights	I definitely suggest living in the dorms/on campus. Also, this may be a bad suggestion, but alcohol makes a great social lubricant. I'm an RA (for the second year) at my campus, and I've found that during our first weeks almost all people come to on-campus living (res) quiet, nervous, and scared. This is natural. The people that end up having a few drinks get more chatty and less nervous and scared (more brave?). This is also pretty natural for alcohol. The two things together results in people coming "out of their shell" more quickly and more easily (compared to people who don't drink/party at the beginning). Friendships that can last lifetimes begin in those first few weeks alot of the time.. and if you spend your time in your room or whatever, you may miss some of it. Not that you can't make friends after those first few weeks, but groups come together quickly (here at least), and it can be harder to join sometimes. I'm not encouraging you should drink all the time, but if there's some people sitting around having a few drinks watching TV, embrace it. Grab a beer, sit down, and watch TV with them. If there's a party, go to it. Even if you don't drink alot, you're still there being seen. Mainly, get onto res/dorms, and don't hang out in your room alone.