I have finished my first year of college (which is a big deal.) The first year is, as I have heard, the worst. The first year is the year you must experience orientation, and that is not just referring to the first weekend you spend on campus before the classes begin. No, I am referring to the entire year of orienting yourself.

As an orientation leader, I try to make orientation the best experience I can for the first years coming in. However, the orientation leaders can't do everything. Most of it falls on the shoulders of the first years -- and my shoulders when I was a first year were already quite heavy.

You see, being a generally anxious person when entering college is difficult, and if you are like me, you understand just how much work it takes.

Orientation itself is a major step and as a socially awkward person. It was most difficult to interact and make friends. I had practically no luck in the friendship department when I first arrived on campus. I was too overwhelmed to lift my head from the salad my homesick tears were falling into.

I'm not writing this to give anyone sure fire tips that will make you life-long friends quickly because they TOTALLY worked for me! I am writing this because I know those tips won't do anything but discourage people like me when they don't work.

You see, making friends in college is like a steep learning curve. Some people will excel at it and do the things people like myself can only dream of while others, like myself, will take forever to do it and will never fully learn how.

What I have come to learn during my first year in college is that the friends you make during orientation are not necessarily the friends you will have in a month's time. Most friends are made during classes, on your residence hall, in your clubs, your honor society and at your workplace.

If you struggle with social anxiety, know that your time will come and orientation is not the end all be all of your social future in college. Keep trying and you will make it!