I remember not being able to sleep the whole week before coming to Wake Forest because I was so ridiculously panicked about making friends. I didn't really know anybody on campus, aside from my sister, so I felt very, very alone.
Now, don't misunderstand me. I may very well be a senior now, but I still do not have all of the answers. Nobody does. I just want to pass along some of the things that I have learned in my time at Wake, thus far. These are the top five pieces of advice that I have learned for how to be the most popular kid on campus.
Don't Be Afraid to Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone
For this piece of advice, I had to learn directly from my older sister, Madison, who was a senior at Wake when I was a freshman. When she arrived on campus she had big dreams of joining one of the many a cappella groups. When she was not called back at auditions, she was devastated. It was only after her roommate dragged her to an information session for Wake's women's rugby team that she found her people. Now, I am not saying that you have to go to her extreme and get multiple black eyes and a mild concussion or two, to make friends on campus, but you do have to be willing to try something new. Step out of your comfort zone and you might just meet some of your best friends for the next four years.
Open Your Heart to People Who Are Different from You
I cannot stress this point enough. If somehow you were made to think that every single person whom you will meet on campus is a wealthy, white, heterosexual Christian, then you were severely misled. You will meet people who are the first person in their family to go to college. You will meet people who have different religions from yours. You will meet people who have a different color of skin from yours. While you are passing judgement on them because they are different, someone else is praising their differences. Get your head out of the sand, check your privilege, and get to know your new classmates. I promise none of them bite.
You Have to Let Go of High School
Do not misunderstand me; I am still great friends with people from high school, but you have to focus on where you are, not where you were six months ago. I spent most of my first few months on campus trying to hold together my friendships from high school. I would drive hours to go visit my friends at Appalachian, or UNC Charlotte, and honestly, I missed out on a lot of chances to spend time with my new classmates. While they were having movie nights and study sessions, I was driving around the state trying to see my high school friends. I still love my friends from high school, but I do wish that I took advantage of my time as a freshman to truly get to know more people on campus.
Find Something That You Are Passionate About and Pursue It
The best way to meet new friends on campus is, honestly, to pursue your passions. There are hundreds of clubs, groups, organizations, and teams on the Wake Forest campus. Chances are, you will see almost all of them represented in some way during your first month. Who cares if none of your hallmates are going to the first meeting? Don't let your friends that you have known for one week keep you from doing something you love. I wish I had followed this advice; this is why my career on the archery team was extremely brief.
Be Yourself
This may, potentially, be my toughest piece of advice for incoming freshmen to follow. In all honesty, I am preaching to the choir on this one. I am about to be a senior and I still struggle with this. Sometimes it might be easier to just go with the flow and act, dress, and speak like everyone else around you. You want to make friends and you want people to like you, so you try to fit in with them, whatever the cost. I encourage you to break the mold. Be you. You are unique and special the way that you are. If those people don't like you because you are different, come find me on campus, and I will introduce you to some people who would love to make some new friends.
