An introvert’s guide to making friends

Jyllian: It’s important to note that you don’t have to conform to certain groups and go against your true self just for the sake of making friends.

FRIENDS are one of the biggest and most important aspects of one’s schooling experience. As we grow older, making new friends becomes a lot more difficult, especially if we are introverts.

I’ve had my fair share of awkward conversations when trying to forge new friendships and I know that this is something many can relate to. Hence, here are my top five tips for making friends in college.

1. Make the first move

Yes, it can be terrifying to go up to your collegemates and start a conversation. What has worked for me, however, is putting myself in their shoes and think about how I would react if I was approached instead. I definitely would be more than willing to talk to the person trying to make conversation. Trust me, people are a lot friendlier than they seem.

2. Find those with common interests

Talk to your classmates openly on topics you’re interested in. More often than not, if someone else shares that common interest as you, they would join in on the topic. Having that common ground would make conversing a lot more meaningful, and it’s just so much more effective than small talk.

3. Join clubs and societies

Clubs and societies are a great place to make new friends. Being in a club means you’ll be meeting the same group of people often. It’s the perfect time for you to find people you can resonate with, without needing to feel awkward approaching them. Besides being able to meet a bunch of new people, joining clubs and societies helps to hone your soft skills and gives you the opportunity to work with others on something you’re passionate about.

4. Connect on social media

Social media platforms are a lifesaver for introverts looking to make friends. Even something as simple as a reply to an Instagram story can help to kickstart a conversation. Utilising social media platforms as a foundation to build friendships is great, as it is so much easier to communicate with new people and express yourself through written text and emojis than approaching them physically. That said, do stay safe online.

5. Be yourself

You may have heard this phrase a million times, but it still holds true. Being yourself means being comfortable with who you are. It’s important to note that you don’t have to conform to certain groups and go against your true self just for the sake of making friends. Naturally, by just being who you are, compatible friends will gravitate towards you.

Jyllian, 19, a student in Selangor, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team.