Getting involved builds friendships
By: Lara Johnson, Staff Writer
Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: Views
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As typical and nerdy as this may sound, you have to become involved. I can only speak from personal experience, but becoming involved in school activities took me from a deep loneliness and placed me in friendships that will last forever.
As I heard my managing editor read Ray's question from across the office, I felt a tug at my heart and immediately my mind went straight to my lonely dorm room and the countless amounts of tears I had once cried.
When people first meet me, I appear confident, outgoing and comfortable. It has taken me a long time to realize that this is how I hide my true self.
In many ways, I am an introvert. I hate going places alone, I dislike new situations, I definitely like knowing what to do and I will not invite myself anywhere.
Unless I have someone to motivate me, I will stay in my room all day. I do things most introverted people do. I read, write, watch movies - the typical things. I study for school and even study things for myself.
At the end of the day; however, I find myself longing for someone to have a conversation with, someone to laugh with: simple friendship.
I transferred to ASU from Dallas in 2006, and I can remember sitting on a bench near my dorm, writing my loneliness into journal after journal.
There were phone calls from home begging me to go back. I was lost, lonely and unsure. I wanted to meet people, but I didn't know how.
As in most Octobers, the modern languages department held an event at the Lake House, and I was invited by someone I barely knew.
Going to the lake house was a small decision to make but perhaps one my best. The evening was a night of good food and pingpong. It was also a night I was able to begin a friendship that went beyond school and classes.
Soon after, I began going to Texan Hall every week for Bible study and prayer. It was not an exclusive group, nor was it affiliated with any organization. It was not a set program nor was it "cool," but it was real, it was beautiful and I was able to meet others who had a passion for their faith, campus and fellow students.
As a German major, it was not long until I joined the German Club, which soon became one of my favorite social gatherings. A classmate and club member asked me to study German with her. We met at Baker's Street (of course), and I cannot help but smile as I remember how much we laughed and how much we did not study.
That was two years ago; we haven't stopped hanging out since. We've comforted each other during painful times and enjoyed countless times of laughter - I even have the privilege of being in her wedding in July.
There are many stories and examples that could be told, but I have noticed it was the step in going to school events that placed relationships in my life.
Things that could seem lame became the place where I met truly intelligent, loving and fun-spirited people.
I cannot guarantee my personal experience will be the same for every student, but I can tell students to seize opportunities. Become involved in organizations, accept invitations people offer to go to a school event. Find a study group or invite a classmate to study with over a warm and delicious cup of coffee. It may take some effort and stepping out of your comfort zone, but why not take the chance?
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