<p>I'm a college freshman at a very large public state school. I've been very depressed since I've came here though... I've always been an introvert so I told myself before I got to college I would change that. Once I got here I tried to interact with people and I thought it went well but after all of those initial conversations, those people never talked to me again. I've been here for almost 3 months and I see that a lot of people have established friendships and groups but I am always alone and it bothers me seeing that. I though it wouldn't be hard to make friends because there's like 17,000 students here but it seems like the majority of them likes to party and drink and I feel like a loser because I'm not into that stuff. I try my hardest to forget about being lonely but it bothers me and I think it may me affecting my academics. Most of the day I just think about this. I don't know what to do. Its just so hard finding people who I am comfortable with. I feel as if I have became even more introverted here than I was before I got here. Its just soo hard, I don't want to spend my 4 years like this. I feel like I know a lot of people but I can't call any of them friends. Whenever I try to reach out and talk to them it seems like they are annoyed with my desperation. Any advice? </p>
<p>Get a job at the library or get into some clubs. And be careful. Usually if people are friendly its cause they want something. </p>
<p>you were like me two years ago. What I did was “fake it until you make it”. I pretended to be as happy, funny, smiling, sociable as I could. I pretended like I was popular and had lots of friends. It turned out fine. At first, it seemed weird and really trying. But then, I gained a lot more “friends”. Those are the friends that made my life easier because I knew for sure if I went to a party I would have someone to talk to, not just standing around at a corner. But true friends that you would rely on for ups and downs will probably not come this way. In fact, I had only one but it was more than enough. I loved her to death and she was a major major introvert :)</p>
<p>@computerx “Fake it til you make it” is some great advice, definitely give that a go. There was a really great TED talk on the subject if you want to Youtube it for inspiration.</p>
<p>Second, why not just go to parties but not drink? You can hold out with what you’re doing now in hopes you’ll bump into someone more like you, but you’ll make friends faster by doing what everyone else is doing (to an extent- you definitely don’t have to drink to make friends). Just a thought. Another thought- you probably aren’t very approachable if you’re not getting invited to places. This is something else that “fake it til you make it” will fix- getting you out of your shell and appearing more bubbly and approachable.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you guys, I will try that technique. The TED Talk was really really insightful too. </p>