She Said

First of all, it’s definitely not weird to insert yourself into a group when it might seem like it’s late in the game. I know of many people who have done so, changing roommates and core friend groups as late as junior year. People frankly do it all the time, because friend groups generally are a delicate phenomena. I met some great people junior year that I consider to be my closest friends now that I didn’t even know existed freshman year. You don’t have to seem like an aggressive friend seeker to get new friends either. Your new roommates will clearly be the first set of people you’ll be in contact with, and you’ll get to know each other quickly by virtue of living together. As cliche as it might be, my best advice is to be yourself. People can sense fakery, and it’s not a quality people like in a potential friend. Joining a new club or group is another way, and even finding a buddy in class, but for the most part, roommates and their own friends will be the ‘best bet’ (not that I want to make it seem like gaining friends is a game). Don’t forget that your friends will come back eventually from being abroad with great stories and photos, and some of your friends still live off campus, and they’re still around, and they’re not going anywhere. You can go over for dinners, movie nights, and parties when you want to have some familiarity, and in these situations, bring your new roommates along! This will create a sense of continuity and harmony for you in spite of all the changes going on with your friendship and roommate situation. Being open and honest about yourself can help establish real friends.