For the first few days at college I've been attending the social events planned by the college constantly, going here and there to get involved and meet new people. At first I was enthusiastic to meet new friends and potential start a friend group at these events, however most of them were a let down to make new friends. The times when I had a friend to go along with me, a friend from high school or people I met at orientation, were quite fun. We would comment on how the event was, judge each other, and generally appreciate the company of each other. The times when I didn't quite enjoy these social events is when I'm all alone and trapped inside crowds of people I've never seen before nevertheless know their name.

Ever get that feeling of suffocation in a really bad heat wave? That's the feeling I got when I was in these crowds of people. It seemed like everyone were in groups of people that they knew very well and no one is left alone all except myself. In these cases you generally feel that you're trapped, too afraid to greet new people and too tired to leave the event to walk back to your dorm without actually doing anything eventful. You feel obligated to be involved but feel awkward to walk up to groups of people to introduce yourself when none of them know you. The best moments of the social event is perhaps when the organizer tries to make people bond with each other and meet new people instead of just staying in groups. However this situation is always the same in a social event, you go to an event with a lot of people, see that there's groups of people, and so you decide to do your own thing and hope to not be involved in any activity that requires more than one person to do.

This feeling of trapped and loneness eats the soul of a person as they feel excluded from the rest of the people, making them feel foreign and scared. It's not that we don't want to make friends, it's that it feels awkward and weird to try to slip into a group of people you don't know while they talk about topics that you don't understand or care about. Eventually you'll be so tired being alone at these events that you'll just abandon the idea of going to these events or even being social.

Now is the time to make new friends. It might seem weird and strange to walk up to someone to introduce up yourself, but realize that everyone else is in the same place as you. We are all new students coming into a foreign environment with little to no friends coming along. Everyone is excited yet nervous for college so now is the best time to make new friends. No one is familiar with each other so it's the best time to get familiar and grab some friends along the way. All you need is a bright smile, simple greeting, and a firm handshake and ta-da you got a friend. You could complain about the hot weather, the professors that you like or dislike, or how each class is like 10 miles away from each other. When the time comes and you need a friend to go to a social event with, you've got a friend in handy. Even if you don't, just grab a friend at the event because there's always that one person at that same event whose in the same situation as you.

We are social animals and no matter where we are we will always feel uncomfortable approaching people with no purpose other than making friends with them. Know that others are just like you, wanting to make friends with new people, unless they really hate you for some reason, and are just as afraid as you are, so take that brave step forward and say hi to that person with a big smile on your face. You're not trapped by groups of people around you, you are only trapping yourself only if you allow it. Step through that barrier you dug up for yourself and see the world beyond your fears.