One of the best things about college is the friendships you create. At this stage in our lives, we start to get a sense of who we are and what kinds of people we want to surround ourselves with. By handling your friendships properly, these connections have the potential to last a lifetime.

Making Friends

For some, making friends is as easy as sitting down next to someone in class and saying, “hello.” For others, this task is not so simple. Putting yourself out there and being yourself are two tools that will lead you to your lifelong friendships. If someone has a similar interest with you, then speak up! You never know what kind of connections you will make by just opening up a little bit, and you would be surprised at how many people will admire your courage.

Maintaining Friendships

Any good friendship is going to take effort; there is no way around it. This effort becomes more difficult as we grow older, and classes, jobs and student organizations get in the way. With our minimal free time, scheduling coffee runs with friends becomes trickier.

To maintain your friendship, the key thing is to show them that you care. Sending your friend a text explaining your situation, but adding how you would like to meet up once things calm down, is a nice gesture and will definitely be appreciated.

The harsh reality is that sometimes your friends have to take second priority to your degree. Though your friends are crucial to a happy life, it’s vital to take your college career seriously and do the work that needs to be done. A true friend will understand that and be forgiving.

Rekindling Friendships

Everyone has lost touch with a friend at one point or another. As devastating as it can be, there is no reason that you cannot try and get that person back in your life. When situations like these arise, it’s best to put the problem out there and let your friend know that you are willing to work on it if they are.

If you are able to resolve things, awesome. If the friend isn’t interested, it might be best to forget it. The truth of the matter is that friendship goes both ways, and if one person is putting forth all the effort, it isn’t a friendship. The friends worth having will want to smooth things over too.

In order to be satisfied with your friendships while at UW-Whitewater, work has to be applied. With communication, a display of compassion and some effort, you will find your friendships flourishing and long-lasting.