In high school, making friends came with a lot of pressure. For some reason, there were unspoken rules about how to pursue and maintain friendships. Many people disapproved of sliding in DM's, getting someone's number from someone else, or even just blatantly saying that you want to hang out and get to know someone outside of school related activities.

In college, those are all ways I've made some of the best friends ever! It's so funny how in high school there are so many things to worry about when socializing and then come to college and realize all of that doesn't matter as much.

Coming to Biola, I knew absolutely no one. Only one other person in my senior class of 1,000+ was even going to college in California. I barely even knew Biola's academic requirements, opportunities, or anything that made it the great school it is. I was so terrified leading up to move in day that everyone would already know each other and I'd be the only one who didn't know a single soul. While at some moments that's felt true, I've been pushing myself this semester to reach out to the people I want to be friends with. Whether it's sliding into DM's on Instagram or meeting through a mutual friend, it's so much easier and casual to make friends with just about anyone than it ever was in high school.

Being intentional in my new and old relationships that I've made during my first year of college has been so rewarding. I'm now experiencing the deeper friendships that everyone raved about that I desperately wanted growing up, where I can talk about anything and everything and feel safe. If you told me this time last year that I would be able to open myself up about my struggles and worries I would've laughed at you because I'm such a private person. I have friends who pray for me, love on me, keep me accountable, encourage me, laugh with me, study with me, and genuinely like me which is honestly something I only experienced with about five people before coming to Biola.

Making friends by reaching out and reaching out again when they forget to make solid plans is not as scary as it seems and I've been able to meet so many cool people. So shoot your shot- the person you've been having a friend crush on is probably going to be so welcoming!