Transitioning from high school to university can be difficult. You will go from an environment where you know everybody to a brand-new environment where you may not know anyone.
Making new friends is an important part of the university experience as it allows you to meet people from all walks of life and get to know people you may have never met if not on campus together. Here are some tips to making friends when you start university.
- Join Facebook groups
Joining Facebook groups such as the New to Curtin Facebook Group, allows you to connect with other students. Finding people who may also be lost or just starting their university journey via Facebook groups is a great way to connect and share your experiences. You can also arrange to meet on campus for a coffee and catch-up.
- Attend events
Attend any university events that interest you! This is a great way to meet people with whom you share common interests. The Explore Curtin Facebook page is the perfect resource for seeing what events are happening around campus.
- Introduce yourself
If you sit next to someone in a lecture or sit on a group table in a tutorial, introduce yourself to those around you. These people will be in your class for the rest of the semester, so it’s great to get to know the people you may be working with during tutorials. If your unit has a group assignment, introducing yourself to people can help you to seek out potential group members.
- Join a club
Joining a club is a great way to quickly meet a large group of people who share a common interest with you. Whether you want to join a club specific to your major, or join a club that relates to a new hobby, joining a club allows you to get to know people outside of restricted class times. Curtin has a wide array of clubs you can look through and join.
- Volunteer
Registering to volunteer at events that matter to you or for causes you care about allows you to meet other individuals who may share similar values to yourself. Curtin Volunteers! provides volunteering and leadership opportunities that can help you meet new people and benefit both your personal student experience and the wellbeing of the wider community.
- Join a sports team
Curtin is home to both social sport and club teams. Joining a sport is a great way to learn some new skills, keep fit during your degree and be a part of a team. Team sports help to create strong bonds between members and can provide you with friends from a wide range of disciplines throughout the university.
Finding good friends can be a great support network throughout your degree, so make the effort to say hi to the people in your new classes this semester!
Written by public relations student Taysha Sullivan
