If there’s one thing I can tell you about making friends in college, I will say that you’ll find that you become more friendly with the people in proximity to you. At least that’s what happened for me with the guys in my hall.

Coming to college from a faraway place like I was, I knew right off the bat that I needed to meet people and try to make myself as friendly as possible. Granted, I had known some people I was going to school with before I got here, but definitely felt in the mood for meeting some new friends. What started out as simple friendly gestures between hallmates such as gathering in one person’s room to watch football on Sunday or asking people to get food with you turned into real, genuine friendship.

As time when on first semester, you start to become more comfortable at school and with the people around you. Just making conversation with the people in the doors next to mine has gone a long way, something that I would even say has guided my experience so far, given the fact that at the beginning of the year, everything was awkward. Didn’t really know the guys or if I should hang out with them, but then I opened myself up to hanging out. Definitely a good decision.

I now know I can hang out with these gentlemen (I live in an all guys hall) all the time, because we share similar interests and are all down for having a good time. Whether it’s going out, eating, or just chilling, I can always count on them to pull through. All because I decided to talk and hang out with them. Now, the inside jokes and weekend plans will never cease.

I am in an all-guys hall, but it makes no real difference whether or not it’s co-ed. It’s honestly refreshing that I have friends so close to me that I have the opportunity to just chill whenever. It’s so easy to communicate and get together in a place where everyone genuinely supports each other.

So now, all of my friends, or most, are the ones who are closest to me. The people who live in the doors next to mine are really my boys. It helps when you see their faces so often, they’re eventually gonna want to hang out with everyone in the hall.

No one should ever be afraid to interact with others, cause I’ve certainly encountered people who are not really into being very social at school, but I can say that I’ve been very thankful for the friends on my floor. So whenever you’re living in a college residence hall, for whatever reason, branch out to the people who live right next to you. Your friendships will grow as the year goes along, and those people will be your friends throughout, even if you may not see most of them the following years at school.