Going into my freshman year, I was terrified. Terrified of getting lost on campus. Terrified of getting my stuff stolen. Terrified of living on my own. My biggest fear of all was not finding friends. I’ll be honest, I think I am a pretty social person but I can find myself in awkward situations every once in a while. Everyone told me that you will meet your best friends in college, but I had no idea where to make these friends. Now I am here to help you out. Here are just a few places you can find your future best friends.

1) In your dorm room

Whether you have chatted a couple times over text or you went completely random, your roommate has the potential to become a lifelong friend. Not every roomie pair turns into an instant friendship, but you will be living together for at least a semester, so you might as well get to know each other. This stranger will teach you how to respect personal space, to share, to be considerate and to trust, just like your kindergarten teacher. I consider myself lucky. My freshman roommate became one of my closest friends in college and also taught me a lot about living with someone else.

2) Down the hallway

Whatever you do, make sure you leave your dorm room door OPEN. Nothing says “I do not want to meet anyone because I am boring and lame” like a closed door. People will walk by your room want to poke their heads in to say what's up. If you’re walking down the hall and see an open door, pop in and say, “Wow, I love the set up of your dorm! It is so cute/cool/creative/crazy!” It works every time. This is a great way to meet everyone on your floor, who, much like your roommate, you will be seeing a lot of. So embrace open doors, you never know when your future maid-of-honor or best man may walk by.

3) In Spanish class

You walk into class and take a seat in the middle of the classroom (not too close, but not too far). As soon as El Profesor begins to speak, you know you are in trouble. You realize that 3:00 a.m. Taco Bell runs do nothing to remedy the fact that summer has wiped all Español from your brain. You scan the room to see if anyone else is having the same panicked reaction. Then, low and behold, you lock eyes with someone wearing a mirrored expression to yours. Start a conversation about how this class will be “muy terrible” and you have found your new study buddy-slash-amigo.

4) At the dining court

Dining courts are the center of all social gatherings your freshman year of college. This is where your peers come together and partake in everyone’s favorite activity: eating. Regardless of how good or bad the meals are in the dining courts, you are guaranteed to have a conversation starter with a random stranger. A simple conversation about how sketchy the pork tenderloins look can spark an instant friendship. Or at least you will find out you’re not the only one who is nervous about why the chicken looks weird.

5) Hanging outside in the grass

Most college students begin class in August. August is still summer, and summer means the weather is (hopefully) nice and warm. When you’re not sitting in your psychology lecture, go outside and enjoy the fresh air. Find a Frisbee and a large patch of grass and people will flock to you. (College kids love Frisbee. Who knew?) Grab a blanket or towel and create an outdoor study session, and others may appreciate your wonderful idea and join you. If you are feeling really bold, you could crank some tunes, throw on your bathing suit, lather up with sunscreen and catch some rays. Enjoy the sun. That vitamin D is good for you and friends are too.

College is scary. It is a time where you leave home and really find who you are. You need some people by your side to help you through this crazy process. This is the time to find your best friends you will have for the rest of your life.