I got up early on a beautiful August morning to help the freshmen move into their new homes on campus. I loved meeting the new students and their families and I couldn't help thinking back to my move-in day.

Three years ago, I was the freshman who had no clue what to expect. I got advice from nearly everyone I met and I've honestly forgotten a lot of it. One piece of advice stuck with me and it is helpful even for those of us who are upperclassmen:

"It is better to be the person who says 'hi' than the person who awkwardly stares at their phone."

The advice is not particularly profound or complex, but it is something that I think more people should consider. We've all been told that, in general, we spend too much time on our phones. This is probably true, but it still amazes me that so many people walk across campus buried in technology rather than acknowledging the people around them.

Think about it: How many times have you pulled out your phone so that you don't have to talk to someone or so that you can avoid making potentially awkward eye contact? Or maybe you genuinely needed to answer an important text or email. Either way, it is safe to say that all of us have done this quite a bit.

It can be easy to slip into this bad habit as we rush across campus to our next class or event, I've caught myself doing it from time to time. As my senior year is beginning, I'm starting to realize something special about college. This is likely the only time of my life that I will be in a community with so many people my own age. There is always an opportunity to make a new friend on campus.

Keep your eyes open to the people who surround you. Don't become complacent, even as you get comfortable in your friend group. Reach out to people on campus, even if you don't think you have anything in common. You might be surprised. Some of the best friends I've made in college were unexpected.

If you're the person constantly looking down at your phone, you will miss countless opportunities to meet interesting people on campus. It might seem awkward to initiate a friendly "hello," but you have nothing to lose.

Everyone will tell you that four years of college will fly by and you probably won't believe them. It sounds cliché, but it is the truth. Reach out of your comfort zone. Don't miss another opportunity to brighten someone's day!