<p>Nysmile’s son’s story is good evidence that everyone should try this.</p>
<p>If you haven’t got the confidence to do that though, just leave your door open for those that do decide to come by and be friendly.</p>
<p>I got the confidence. I strike up conversations with 30-40 year old people. I think I could do it with a bunch of freshmeat.</p>
<p>I would do it but I think you have to approach this a different way when it comes to someone of the opposite sex. If you live in a co-ed dorm and a guy just walked in a girls room I think it it would creep out some of the girls or be awkward. Any advice on a proper way for a guy to introduce himself to a girl? I definitely don’t want to make anyone feel like I am “hitting” on them.</p>
<p>Since you don’t really seem to know what “hitting” on a girl entails, then I wouldn’t worry about them thinking that you were. Personally, I would first stand in her doorway and say “Hi.” But that’s just me :</p>
<p>I think a mix of leaving your door open (only while you or your roommate is inside of course) and hanging out in the common room/lounge really helps as well.</p>
<p>This summer out of the 30 people on our floor we have a group of about 18 people that hang out in the lounge, go eat together, party together, etc… It is pretty awesome when you have a very social floor.</p>
<p>I never went door to door, but if you leave your room open you’ll usually get people to say hi (and if someone else has their door open, you can walk over and say hi as well). </p>
<p>It isn’t creepy to say hi to a girl if you also say that you’re trying to meet everyone on the floor. Maybe if all you did was meet only the girls on the floor it would seem creepy, but if you’re just going door to door I wouldn’t worry about that.</p>
<p>OP,</p>
<p>Nothing wrong with that at all. Do note, however, that not everyone is “relaxed” at first. Some people might come off as cold in the beginning, but in my experience, almost all of them warm up as the semester progresses.</p>
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<p>I think this is something very important. I know that when I get focused I tend to brush off others, but obviously that’s only in certain moments. I know that’s true of others. First impressions are important, but sometimes people don’t take advantage of every moment.</p>
<p>What we did was, we went door to door as people arrived and asked if we could see how they had set up their room. It was a great way to meet new people, start up a conversation, and even get some decorating/furniture layout ideas!</p>
<p>Nope, I can honestly say I never did and would never do that. I could barely leave my door open because I didn’t know what to say if someone did come by. o.0</p>
<p>However, if you think it’s a good idea, go for it.</p>
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<p>They won’t care. When you walk into their room and say “Hey! I’m from the floor above and I’m just going around meeting people. I’m x” with confidence and energy, they aren’t going to think you’re hitting on them or react negatively.</p>
<p>Yeah, I agree, especially on freshman move in day, people are just being social and getting to know each other, so it’s perfectly acceptable to just go introduce yourself…just dont make suggestive comments (and if this is part of your humor, save it for once they get to know you a bit) and they won’t feel like they’re being hit on.</p>
<p>Ahhhhh I shall force myself to do this though I’m only moving in in a few weeks time so I might have to reread this thread then to give me motivation again heh. But then again, I’m moving in earlier because of a separate and earlier orientation for international students so I should be settled by the time the rest of the freshmen start moving in so I could help them move and hopefully make some friends through the process. Advantageous! :)</p>
<p>There you go, Rai, that’s the spirit! =)</p>
<p>Rai, Good luck to you. Helping the other students move in really helped my son to connect with his dorm mates. The other students also respected him for taking the initiative to introduce himself and helping others to connect in the same way. Once he started helping people carry their stuff into the dorm, others began doing the same. He started a chain reaction and this helped to bring the entire floor together. </p>
<p>Definitely ask other kids if they would like to go with you to get something to eat/drink during the first few days. This is another great way to get to know people. Another thing you can do is to ask a couple of kids if they would like to join you on a walk around campus so you (and they) can get to know exactly where the classes are going to be held and how long it takes to walk from one class to another.</p>
<p>i’m not living on a freshman only floor so…
too scary not doing this</p>
<p>I did that. Also did it when I interned in my apartment building. It is a good habit.</p>
<p>Actually as an RA this year, i will be doing something like this quite often. But my first two years it depended. Usually if I saw someone going by the hall or if the door is open I might. It is a smaller campus so you would also see people around a lot, but usually, no I guess I wouldnt go knocking from door to door. Though I am not oging to have any problems doing it, I just felt at the time it was not as needed to (while this year, it is more so because it is my job to do so).</p>
<p>The girls that did that on my floor ended up being the ones who created all the drama. My guy friends would think that going door to door is weird, because you’re going to naturally run into those people. I thought it was annoying when people knocked on my door and kep asking questions and wouldn’t get the hink to leave. I’m going to eventually talk to you, there is not need to act like an extroverted manic to get to know me. There are floor meetings and stuff to get to know people. You’ll know people on the common room when you’re relaxing. I thought it was weird and awkward for people to drop by my room acting all fake nice tying to get to know stuff about me just to tell everyone else what I told them. Maybe it’s different with guys.</p>
<p>The guys didn’t think it was weird. There is a way to go about it without being obnoxious or weird. Anyone with a sense of social awareness knows how to introduce themselves and make connections with people without being a jerk about it. </p>
<p>tiff, perhaps you were on a floor with a bunch of jerks. Not everyone is “fake nice” and out to start drama. Introducing yourself to people is not an example of a “manic extrovert”.
It’s normal social behavior and something that one should practice and become comfortable doing.</p>
<p>At my freshman orientation, first few days of school, there was one girl who really REALLY made an effort to meet/greet. She was all over with “My name is _____! I’m from West Virginia!” I was impressed, though I never would have had the nerve to be that “out there.” But in a short while, everyone knew her.</p>
<p>Really, all you have to do is introduce yourself, find out the other person’s name & major or where they’re from, and move on. It won’t be taken as “hitting on” the other person.</p>
<p>I like the idea of volunteering to help floormates carry stuff, and leaving your door open the first few days (while you’re there) and/or hanging out in the common area are also good ideas.</p>