It's the beginning of the school year. Classes are new, people are new. Walking in during the first day of classes, I look around and have so much nerves trying to make friends and talk to people. It's always good to have a classroom buddy- that one person that we can turn to for notes and homework. However, the logistics of making that buddy is so HARD. How do you determine who to talk to? Will the other person like you? Should you just sit down somewhere random? Who looks nice enough to start up a conversation?
During the first day of classes, I, like most people, assume that one would register for classes with their friends and sign up for similar sections. Unfortunately for me, I do not have as many friends within my major or could not find classes with them that fit into my schedule. So, I walk into my classes blind and expect everyone to be extremely close. I grit my teeth and try to overcome my social anxiety expecting to have to shimmy into someone's already established friend group. But, surprising THIS ISN"T THE CASE.
Minus the 4 people that walk in knowing each other, everyone has the same mentality. That being: stay away from me. I sit down early before class starts and observe my surroundings. Everyone who walks in minus those 4 people, sit on the opposite sides of the room and away from each other if they can help it. Multiple people pick either the farthest corner away from the professor and/or other people and just look like they are chilling. Or, like they try to sit next to another human being, but they kinda never start a conversation, they just stare at each other.
And, I think huh... maybe I've been putting too much pressure on myself that you need to have friends before walking in. I think everyone else is probably thinking the same thing: is it worth it to have a classroom buddy because I don't want to talk to anyone.
When I walked in my classes today, I tried to sit down next to a nice looking peer, and again I realize: oof, I'm awkward and I hate small talk.
