Within the first week, I clicked with three amazing girls from my course, and now we live together. One minute, I was nervously introducing myself in a seminar, and the next, we were planning nights out and hungover coffee runs. Uni friendships? They form faster than you think.
What surprised me the most was how random some connections were. I’ve made friends in societies, sports teams, lectures, and even sitting awkwardly beside someone on a Monday morning. Pro tip: always say yes to plans, even if it’s just a quick trip to the corner shop. You never know where you’ll meet your future bestie.
"It was a classic lesson in uni life: by the end of first semester, you’ll know who’s sticking around and who’s just passing through."
That said, not all friendships are built to last. Case in point: someone I was super close with in first semester. At first, I thought they were the nicest person ever—spoiler alert, they were not. Let’s just say the mask slipped, and we drifted apart. It was a classic lesson in uni life: by the end of first semester, you’ll know who’s sticking around and who’s just passing through.
"Moving forward means making space for people who truly get you."
While new friendships flourish, old ones can fade. Coming from a tiny, small-minded community where “different” wasn’t exactly celebrated, I’ve found it harder to stay close to people from home. Different views, different paths—it happens. And honestly? It’s okay. Moving forward means making space for people who truly get you.
Uni friendships aren’t perfect, but they’re real. They’re the people who hype you up for nights out, bring you snacks when they've been to the shop and binge-watch TV with you on Sunday afternoons. So, if you’re nervous about making friends, don’t be. Say yes to everything, try new things, and trust the process. Somewhere out there, your people are waiting to find you—maybe even in the seat next to you in a 9 AM lecture.
