Brooke Cranford | LTVN Sports Director
Going to college is like starting kindergarten. No friends, a new you and a whole world to discover. “Treat others the way you want to be treated,” preaches the Golden Rule, written on a poster in the classroom. This was a pivotal point in finding our first friendships, and that is still true all of these years later.
The problem is that many of us expect our best friends to simply find us on the first day of school. We tell ourselves that if we’re patient enough, the right people will come knocking on our door.
We sit alone in our apartments, dorm rooms and houses instead of walking into a club meeting. We sit silently before class rather than introducing ourselves to the person sitting next to us. We convince ourselves to skip events because “we have too many things to do instead,” when in reality, we just don’t want to show up alone.
The truth is, college doesn’t reward comfort, it rewards the opposite.
Some of the most meaningful moments you’ll experience at Baylor will begin with a decision that feels uncomfortable and awkward. Walking into a club meeting where you don’t know anyone. Going to church by yourself. Asking, “is this seat taken?” before class on your first day. Inviting someone you’ve only talked to once to grab coffee after lecture.
These aren’t huge, life-changing decisions in the moment, but the result could be the life-altering relationship you’ve been praying for.
Every relationship you’ve had started with a stranger. Every friend group started with someone making the first move. Someone had to introduce themselves, ask the first question or send the first text. No friendship appears overnight, they begin because someone is willing to embrace being uncomfortable.
The reality is, everyone is looking for a friend, so be the one to start the conversation. Ask if you can sit with someone in the SUB or register for the club you’ve been curious about. Stay after class for a little longer to introduce yourself and say yes when someone invites you to hang out. You don’t have to become an outgoing person overnight; you just have to be willing to take the small step outside your comfort zone.
As we prepare to start a new semester, don’t let fear convince you to stay in your comfort zone because the memories you’ll cherish won’t come from staying behind in your bedroom. Your best friend is not going to just knock on your door. Instead, they’re waiting on the other side of one awkward introduction, conversation or decision to show up and just be yourself.
