Every upperclassman can remember the anxious feelings that they experienced during their first few weeks on campus. Among many things, all college students, including myself, were unsure of how to navigate the dining halls.
I can still remember the thoughts consuming my mind upon entering the dining halls for the first time. Is it ok to eat by myself? Will people think that I am lonely? Will I be judged? From personal experience, I’d like to give you the rundown on how you can go about eating.
First of all, it’s not as complicated as you think. While it may seem as if everyone is eating with a large group or even with a few friends, this isn’t the case. Many students, including myself, choose to eat alone on regular occasions. I can promise you that you won’t be judged. In fact, you will most likely see a lot of other people eating alone if you look around.
Eating with friends is another good option as well. It’s a great way to catch up with each other in between classes or later in the day. From past experience, however, it can be quite tricky to coordinate schedules in order to find a time where you can eat together.
Although you may prefer to eat with friends, eating alone will save you a lot of time as you won’t have to wait for someone to join you. In the end, it is important to do what is most comfortable for you.