Saying Yes: Finding My Friends and Community at NYU

Many first year students, like myself at one point, were concerned about making friends at such a big school. But I feel as though this could not be further from the truth! NYU has given me the opportunity to meet people from quite literally across the world! While applying to college in high school only a handful of my classmates had applied to NYU. None of them had even applied to my specific major known as Interactive Media Arts. This being said I was nervous about being in a new place without having that comfort of people I already knew. However the first days, month, and year at college is all about trial and error! It is the one safe place where you can experience different things and learn more about yourself as an individual!

While living on campus my first year, I quickly learned that the college experience is truly in the hands of the student. I was initially feeling very shy about going to different events but this is one of the main ways to meet people! However once I added a few welcome week events I learned how not scary it was.

I also learned that people don’t always come to you, you need to go to the people. When I started going to RA events my first year, I had so much fun and got to meet so many people! By putting myself out there, I was able to build some great connections.

Whenever I would be worried about meeting new people I would tell myself that I am not the only one. Everyone is experiencing the same worry about making friends, so everyone is much more open to starting up a simple conversation! There have been so many scenarios where I would make a joke to ease tension, or lend a helping hand somewhere to spark up a new bond!

One of the most important things I am trying to work harder to implement in my life is saying YES more often! Instead of shying away from a new experience I have been working towards accepting whatever opportunities lie in front of me. I feel like the sooner people learn this simple mantra, the more fun life becomes! In doing so, I feel like I am really getting the most of my college experience!

Using the mantra “Say Yes More” in my own life, I feel like I have been so much more extroverted which has truly rewarded me in so many ways! During my first year I joined as an ambassador which has given me the opportunity to meet so many amazing people!

Through ambassadors I joined our Latine Affinity Space to connect with fellow ambassadors of my same or similar culture!

I also decided to join the Move-In crew at the start of my sophomore year to help move in incoming first year students. I was able to meet so many people in my residence hall and make great friends!

Also just attending more RA events overall! Not only do I get free food, but also get to make some new friends!

Being a college student is not easy and definitely takes some getting used to. It is important to know that you are not alone, and to also know how important community is. I feel like I realized after my first year how a lot of people are in the same boat as me. Through saying yes more I have been able to make the most of my college experience so far and meet so many amazing people!