I began orientation with this worst possible attitude. Knowing the size of BU and the fact that there was over a month between the time orientation ended and classes began, I felt that there was NO way that I would maintain any relationships formed during my first sampling of college life. Yet, somehow things had a way of working out for me.

After checking into the dorm, I was miserable because everyone was off doing the Common Ground program and there was no food for me to eat. One of the orientation staff members directed me to a café where I just so happened to run into one of the three people from my hometown studying in Boston. He gave me a much-needed pep talk about making friends (Seriously).

Who would want to interfere with this love?

The earth seemed to pick up on my misery and it proceeded to pour down rain while everyone else happily carried on in established little groups of friends. Somehow, a group of other stragglers eventually found me and we went out for Thai food. I do not remember the people who I ate with but I will forever remember it as the moment I stopped being exclusive with meat and potatoes and opened my taste buds to many delicious types of food.

I was waiting for my Student Advisor to arrive one morning along with two other group members. Their closeness was so intimidating that I decided to not make an attempt to join their conversation. The one ended up being my roommate and the three of us became close friends after the other was randomly sitting next to us in the dining hall. I later found out that they hated each other during orientation and they both wanted to talk to me but did not want to initiate the conversation.

If you are a current student living on campus during the summer, do not be bothered by the infiltration of new and prospective students. Remember that you were once the kid who asked where the nearest Starbucks was when you were standing right in front of one.

If you have already gone to orientation and feel as if you are off to a bad start, you will have plenty of opportunities to make new friends. There is no way that you were more awkward than I was and I turned out okay (I think).

If you have yet to become oriented, try to enter into it with an open mind. Explore your new surroundings, try new things, and do not hesitate to go up and talk to random people because they probably want to meet you too. Be your awkward, weird selves and have fun.

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