Adulting is scary. I’m here to give you a tip on how to make it a little less scary when you get to college. There are so many people to meet and get to know as soon as you step onto campus, and mastering the art of small talk is going to help you so much! This is a skill you’ll need in so many scenarios, from meeting people on your floor, to networking or first dates.
Here are a few tips:
- Smile, and be open to meeting new people!
- People are mostly kind, and everyone else is looking for friends too!
- Talk about what you want you want to get out of your freshman year together, and the things you want to study and do.
Already a natural at striking up conversations with others? Maybe practice steering small talk into a meaningful conversation!
Here are a few more tips:
- Don’t be afraid to be the first person to connect.
- Be armed with talking points! (Sports, classes, hobbies). Check out this list for some talking points, https://conversationstartersworld.com/topics-to-talk-about/.
- Be yourself! People are going to want to talk to you for who you are. Don’t forget that.
This includes focusing on drawing out the other person and learning how to engage personalities and networking styles that are different from your own. Adulting is about communication. Reach out to others when you want to talk, or when it seems like they want to talk. You can do this!