College is a fun, new, and exciting experience, surrounded by what seems like a million new faces. Moving somewhere far from your friends and family and out of your “comfort zone” to a new environment without the daily interactions you have known all your life makes most people nervous. Finding friends can be a difficult and scary task for most people. However, there are some healthy ways to meet new people and turn college into the best time you have ever experienced. One of the easiest ways to meet people would be to join an intramural team. If you are someone who loves playing sports, joining an intramural team would be a great decision. This way you can meet people who love the same sport as you while you get to enjoy doing something that you like to do at the same time. You already have something in common with the people playing the sport, so you can use it as a conversation starter and stay in shape while doing so. You could also find the school’s wellness center and see what weight lifting machines or swimming pools they have and see if they have activities posted that you could enjoy. Joining a fraternity or a sorority is also another way to make new friends. While not everyone is meant to be in a fraternity or a sorority, it is a great way to meet a lot of people in a short period of time. The meetings and socials are a way to interact with others and find people that have the same or similar interests that you do. Getting involved in a club that shares the same interest or hobbies as you do is also a great way to meet new people. Getting involved in the drama department or the school newspaper can help introduce you to a variety of people. Don’t be scared to join a club.. Even during your classes if you see someone that you feel you have something in common with, don’t be afraid to walk up and introduce yourself. You may be surprised that the person you are talking to has the same fears and enjoys the same things you do. While these are a few healthy ways to get to know more people at your college, there are also unhealthy and unsafe ways to meet people. Meeting people at a bar or at a party cannot always be the best idea. Although they may appear to be the sweetest, most concerned, selfless person ever, you never know who you will meet at these types of places. If you do happen to meet someone at such a place, there are precautions you can take to ensure they are good people. Don’t be afraid to do some research on them to make sure they are who they appear to be. Ask other people around if they know about them and what kind of a person they are. Do they take school seriously? Do they skip class all the time? Do they have dreams and goals of what they want to be? These are just a few questions to ask to see if they are good. If you do happen to go to a party or a bar, don’t go by yourself and don’t give anyone your telephone number or address. If you feel you want to see them again, simply agree to meet them in a public restaurant or club where there are people around until you get to know them better. Do not go anywhere alone with someone you don’t completely trust. Taking someone else to a club with you helps. You and your friend can be each other’s eyes and ears. This way no one can take advantage of you, and someone will be there just in case something does happen that you need help with. Everyone always says that you meet your lifelong friends in college, and I do believe that is true. Just make sure that you are meeting the wonderful friends the safe and healthy way.