As we’ve just seen, socializing is a big part of college, and it’s an important part of every student’s mental health. Friends can be a great help in stress relief and problem solving. As you meet more people, you also have the chance to learn about different views of the world—every person has a different life experience. Let’s look at a student’s experience as she examines the importance of making friends.

Monet is starting her sophomore year of college. She struggled to meet people the year before. Throughout her freshman year, she found herself running into roadblocks—when she was sick and missed a class, she didn’t have anyone to ask for notes; when she struggled with a topic she was studying, and she couldn’t make it to her teacher’s office hours, she didn’t know who to ask for help; when teachers instructed class members to get into a group, she never knew who to talk to.

Monet is determined to make friends this semester. On her first day of classes, she sits next to someone else who is sitting alone and strikes up a conversation. She also joins a social dance club that meets twice a week. As her sophomore year continues, Monet finds that she is much more relaxed and happy. She has met several new and interesting people, and she’s learned a lot from them.

There are a lot of opportunities in college to meet new people: in classes, student housing, clubs, etc. Be sure to take advantage of these opportunities to make new friends.