Real Friends in the Real World


Photo courtesy of Giphy.com

Photo courtesy of Giphy.com

Let’s face it, going into freshman year you probably had no Emily Goldberg headshotfriends. The great thing about going into freshman year, though, is that no one else has any friends either  —  the handful of people from your high school and your roommate “bestie” that you met on Facebook don’t count. I distinctly remember the night before moving into my dorm, panicking that I would spend all of freshman year alone. The last time I had to make an entirely new friend group was when I moved schools going into sixth grade, and seven years later I wasn’t sure I remembered how to befriend a bunch of strangers.

The reality of that fear, however, was that most other incoming freshmen were also panicking and would resolve to be the friendliest version of themselves on the first day in hopes of actually finding people that would tolerate, and even enjoy their presence. Everyone was in the same boat. The first few days of college were pretty much “How Do I Make Friends Again? 101.”

Now, four years later as I prepare to make my move into the real world, I’m experiencing a version of that same pre-move-in-day panic attack. However, this time when I move to a new city, into a new apartment, there probably won’t be a group of “real world freshmen” anxiously awaiting my arrival, knocking on my door to strike up a conversation and to get to know their neighbor. So, this leaves me wondering, if I move to a city without a group of college or high school friends to lean on, how does one make friends in the real world?

After brainstorming with friends and even consulting some real-world post-grads themselves, here’s what I’ve come up with as the most likely, and least awkward, ways to make friends after you graduate college.

1. Mutual friends

 

Even if none of your best friends are moving to the same city as you are, there’s a good chance your sister’s boyfriend’s cousin lives there, and he or she might be nice enough to meet up for coffee and show you around. The world ends up being a pretty small place, and chances are you know someone, who knows someone, who knows someone who lives in the same city as you.

 

2. Join a gym

 

Besides the fact that it will hopefully keep you in shape, going to the gym can become a routine, and when other people have the same routine as you, and you see them day in and day out in the same spin class, strike up a conversation. Plus, the pressure is off when you both look gross and sweaty.

3. Go to a dog park

 

OK, maybe this one is just me because I may end up being an old dog lady someday, but there’s no denying that dog people love to be dog people, together. “What breed is he?” easily leads into “You live in Culver City? Me too. What do you do?” Also, so this will probably only work if you actually have a dog — otherwise it might come off as a little weird.

4. Take a class or join a team

Regretting not taking a photography class during college? Miss being on your club soccer team? Now is your chance to do that, and to meet people who also want to take part in the same activities. Though the involvement fair doesn’t exist in the real world, it doesn’t mean you can’t find groups of people with interests that align with your own.

Emily Goldberg is a senior majoring in print and digital journalism. Her blog column, Diaries of a Second-Semester Senior, runs every Thursday.