The Envoy

Making friends at a commuter-heavy school like Hunter can be challenging. And being in an environment where you barely know anyone or know no one at all is often intimidating and discouraging. Many of us are nervous about meeting new people, but it doesn’t have to be so difficult! I’ve learned a few things about creating and maintaining friendships at Hunter, so here’s a quick guide to making friends on campus.

Break the Ice

It may feel daunting to randomly start talking to a stranger, but wherever you may be on campus, try to initiate a conversation with someone who intrigues you. Ask them where they got their hoodie from. If you like their outfit or their hairstyle, compliment them. Use open-ended questions that encourage the other person to share something about themselves, so that you may get to know them better. At the beginning of the school year, my laptop’s wallpaper was from the anime JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and my cursor was Abbacchio. People would frequently compliment my wallpaper or comment on how cool my cursor was. This small interaction would lead to us discussing animes we enjoy or me showing them how I got my cursor to look like that. Compliments or an acknowledgment of something shared by both parties is a common way for friendships to begin. Once you meet someone new, ask for their social media handles or their phone number and connect with them afterward. 

Connect Through Social Media 

Did you know that there’s a thriving online community for Hunter College students on Instagram? For whatever year you are in, there is most likely an Instagram page showcasing the incoming freshmen of that year. Most of the friends I’ve made have been through @hunterclassof2026 and mutuals on Instagram. You may go through the page and follow people you think you could be friends with. When I find someone I would like to befriend, I follow them and DM them introducing myself. One of the main ways I start conversations is by reacting or responding to a story, or commenting on a picture. If I find something we have in common in their story or highlight, I’d make a remark about it. When making friends through social media, don’t forget to be consistent. Invite them to meet up during school and get lunch.

Expand Your Horizons 

Clubs are another great way to make new connections. Joining a club allows you to find people who share your interests or bond through the discovery of a new one. At the beginning of the Fall semester, I attended Hunter’s street fair and made a list of clubs and organizations that piqued my interest, such as the Black Student Union and The Envoy. I discovered there are clubs for many niche interests. Obsessed with NCT127, or P1Harmony? Join the Hunter K-pop club! Love to crochet or dying to learn? Consider the Crochet and Knitting club. Clubs create a sense of community and serve as a fun social outlet.

If you’re nervous about attending an event or joining a club, that’s completely normal. It can be unnerving to put yourself out there and try something new, and it’s not uncommon to feel anxious or self-conscious in these situations. It’s important to remember that not every event or club will be a perfect fit for you, and that’s okay. You can try something and decide it’s not for you.

If you’re feeling really nervous, you could try bringing a friend along for support, or just take it one step at a time by attending an event or meeting. Keep an open mind, and you may create some amazing experiences and develop friendships. 

 

Embrace Your Uniqueness

It is so rewarding to form genuine connections with people who value the real you, so don’t try to be someone you’re not. When you are yourself, you can attract people with similar or complementary personalities. Some of us may feel like we need to “rebrand” ourselves or appeal to the interests of others in order to make friends. Instead of pretending to like or know something that you don’t, try to be true to yourself and your interests. Pretending in the early stages of a potential friendship can be counterproductive to building a genuine connection. In order to build a strong and lasting friendship, it’s important to be honest and transparent from the beginning. This creates a foundation of trust and mutual respect that can help the friendship to flourish. Granted, not everyone is going to like you, but that just makes finding your true friends easier.

Conclusion

Making new friends does not have to be as difficult as we make it. Though it is sometimes easier said than done, if you consistently put forth the effort and remain true to yourself, you will undoubtedly make friends at school. Remember that it is never too late to make new friends. Don’t be discouraged – keep an open mind, and you may find a new friendship that truly clicks.