<p>It's the end of my first day of orientation and I haven't made any new friends. There's no one for me to hang out with. It seems like everyone has already, if not formed groups, found people to talk to and hang out with. I seriously feel depressed. Is there something wrong with me for not finding a friend right away? What can I do?</p>
<p>Join a club or sport. Insta-friends.</p>
<p>hang out with your hall people. it's easier to go to meals together with people on the same floor and all that. you'll get to know them well. don't worry, things will settle in for you.</p>
<p>thanks. any other advice? why do i have to be so quiet??</p>
<p>dont be quiet...talk to lots of people...go to the dining hall and sit with someone of the opposite sex, start talking...everyones in the same boat as you</p>
<p>Just don't push yourself on anyone.</p>
<p>This one chick tried to push herself on to me when I went with my roomie to the Smokers' hut(in a failed attempt to bond with the kid) the first week or so. I was tempted to tell her how ugly she and her personality were and the smoking wasn't helping in either of those areas.</p>
<p>"Just don't push yourself on anyone."
Zing.</p>
<p>If you be yourself, and try and display your interests, whatever they are, people with common interests will be drawn to you. Then go from there...</p>
<p>Just try and be independent till then, and after you find your niche/close group of friends...things will get better quickly.</p>
<p>If you don't feel comfortable talking about yourself, try speaking up in a situation where people are chatting.</p>
<p>Mealtimes are great, if you're living in dorms. Just ask some people if you can sit with them, and you can just do the usual "what's your name? Where are you from? What are you planning to study?" If they are cold, just finish your meal, or even leave. Forget about them and move on next time. If they're nice, perhaps you'll meet up with them again. Asking questions can get others to talk, if you don't like to talk much yourself.</p>
<p>In class is also good... I have found that people may be surprised, but never rude if you turn to them before class and smile and say, "Hi". Even if you're too shy to say more than that, a slow conversation can build up over the course of minutes, days, weeks.</p>
<p>My point is not to push it. You don't need to make friends instantly. And you know what? I think friends are very important, and they take time to develop because you must have trust as well as compatible traits. You can start to make acquantainces in the above ways, but please don't think that you have to have "friends" by day 3. Friends are important. Don't rush into deciding who are your friends and who are not. Who you choose as friends is a reflection of you who are, so remember that you're growing and maturing but not overnight - so clearly, your truest friends will not reveal themselves overnight.</p>