1. Show up, even if you have to go alone

Going to an event by yourself can feel intimidating, but the beginning of the semester is one of the best times to do it. Remember, you aren’t the only person looking for new friends.

Manchester’s Week of Welcome gives new students plenty of opportunities to break the ice. Grab something sweet at the Ice Cream Social, head to Grill & Chill, check out PERC After Dark or experience Manny’s Almost Midnight Mile at Spartan Stadium.

You don’t need to walk into an event knowing anyone. That’s the point. If you’re nervous about being there alone, look around. Someone else probably is, too.

2. Start with one person

There’s no rule that says you need to have your college friend group figured out by the end of your first week. Instead, focus on making one connection at a time.

Introduce yourself to the person next to you during your WoW Welcome Session. Talk to someone in your WoW Group Meeting. Sit with someone new at dinner. If you hit it off with someone, ask if they’re going to the next event.

One connection has a way of leading to another. You meet someone from class, they introduce you to their roommate, their roommate brings someone else along, and suddenly you recognize a few more faces around campus.

3. Embrace the awkward small talk

The first few weeks of college give you a perfectly good excuse to talk to almost anyone.

What’s your major?

Where are you from?

What residence hall are you in?

Are you going to _______event tonight?

You don’t need the perfect opening line. You’re just starting a conversation. WoW activities such as the Group Mix & Mingle are built to help students make those introductions. Take advantage of the fact that everyone is new to someone.

4. Find people who are into the same things you are

Sometimes the easiest way to connect with someone is to start with something you already have in common. Manchester offers dozens of student clubs and organizations, along with music, theatre, service opportunities and other ways to get involved.

Your options can get pretty specific, too. You could find students who share your interests through groups such as the Manchester University Gaming Society, MU Dungeons and Dragons Club, Environmental Club, Theatre Society, College of Business Club, Pre-Law Club or Manchester Aspiring Educators.

There are also organizations centered around communities and shared experiences, including the Black Student Union, Latino Student Union, Asian Awareness Association and United Sexualities and Genders (USG), along with faith-based, service and academic organizations.

Not sure where you fit yet? That’s okay! Stop by the Fall Involvement Fair on Aug. 26 and see what catches your attention.

You don’t need to join everything. Find one or two groups that genuinely interest you and, most importantly, keep showing up. Seeing the same people regularly is how “Hey, weren’t you at the meeting last week?” can eventually turn into a friendship.

Explore Manchester clubs and activities

5. Be the person who makes the invitation

You don’t have to wait for someone else to include you. If you’ve been talking to someone in class, try:

“I’m grabbing something to eat after this. Want to come?”

Or if you’ve met someone during WoW:

“I’m going to PERC After Dark tonight. Are you going?”

Inviting someone to something you’re already planning to do can feel much less intimidating than asking a person you just met if they want to “hang out sometime.”

Worst case, they’re busy. Best case, you just made plans with a new friend.

6. Don’t always disappear into your room

It’s tempting to finish class and immediately retreat to your room, especially after a long day. But some of your best opportunities to meet people happen during the ordinary parts of campus life.

Study somewhere other students hang out. Eat with someone instead of taking your food back to your room. Spend a little time on campus between classes.

You don’t have to turn every free moment into a social activity. Just give people the opportunity to see you more than once. Familiar faces become acquaintances. Acquaintances can become friends.