How to meet new people during post-secondary education

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: PATPITCHAYA (THINKSTOCK)
Meeting new people and making new friends during post-secondary education can be daunting, but fear not, there are great events and ways at Fanshawe to help you find a tribe of your own.

To many incoming first-year students, one of the biggest fears is meeting new people and trying to forge connections. There are multiple avenues to meet people in college, some more obvious than others, but here are a few that will help ease the pressure of your first year.

For those opting to live in one of the three residence buildings on campus, it will be the easiest to meet people during move-in days.

Despite the wild flurry of emotions for those bidding adieu to parents and significant others, residence puts you on the same page as everybody else.

It is probably one of the first times you are living away from the comforts of home, so take the opportunity to make your own family away from your home.

A common trend across some residences includes floors bonding so closely, they create custom apparel to commemorate the year and create a sense of belonging within (and sometimes across) the floor and residence.

There is also a wide array of activities offered throughout frosh week specifically geared towards floor and building bonding. Take those opportunities and bring a group of friends to the frosh concert or paint party.

The Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) offers a wealth of opportunities when it comes to volunteering.

In fact, current FSU president, Jahmoyia Smith, started off volunteering through FSU in her first year at Fanshawe College.

Some of the opportunities offered through the FSU are Red Squad (event promotion), Leave The Pack Behind (tobacco control initiative), The Sharing Shop (helping provide students with basic necessities), PILLAR non-profit network (volunteering opportunities within the greater London community) and London Youth Advisory Council (encouraging youth to lead change in current politics).

Joining an intramural league means keeping fit and playing fun games throughout the year.

There are a variety of leagues and sports including women’s only leagues, co-ed leagues and summer leagues.

This is a good opportunity to meet new people in a non-stressful environment because team sports encourage communication amongst teammates.

Attending events organized by the College is another way to meet others too.

One event that is great for musicians to jam together to is acoustic afternoons.

Other FSU events that have happened in the past that encourage inclusivity and friendly banter are the Beer, Wine and Food Festival, Little Ray’s Reptiles, Ladies Night and their infamous Chill Lounge. Due to the busy events happening, people can easily relate to one another and form new friendships.

The first step towards meeting new people is putting yourself out there and reaching out to others.

Though the thought of approaching a stranger may seem daunting at first, these are skills that are also valued in the workforce (communication skills) and will benefit both your college and professional life.

Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.