Author: Mabel Smith

July was the month for Social Wellness and as summer break rolls on and your study abroad programme or uni departure draws closer – mindhamok are here to talk about friendship.

Our recent Instagram post provides tips on forming new friendships. However, at mindhamok, we know that it can often be a lot easier said than done. Deep down, we know how to do it. We know that it means getting out of our rooms, walking up to strangers and putting ourselves out there – but sometimes it feels like we just can’t do it. 

So let’s remind ourselves why we should, can and will get out there and make some friends. Because we’re awesome – and people deserve to know it! 

A fresh start 

The most beautiful part about starting university or studying abroad is that we’re going somewhere new. Nobody knows us! And yes, that can be daunting but it’s also pretty cool. We get to talk to people who know absolutely nothing about us. Remember that time you fell over in class and spilt coffee all over yourself? Of course you do – but your neighbours in Madrid won’t! Or that time you sneezed so hard you farted? How could you forget? But guess what? Your study partner in Paris doesn’t have a clue about your bodies’ natural gasses or the intensity of your sneezes. 

If we’re being honest, we believe in owning all our embarrassing stories. There’s nothing funnier than re-telling them and there’s no story that is too embarrassing to tell. And when we’re meeting new people: we have control over the narrative. And that doesn’t just apply to embarrassing stories; we get to control the narrative of ourselves. Now we’re not suggesting you pretend that you’ve descended from royalty or that you’re an undercover CIA agent (unless you are – but should you really be telling people that?). However, you do get the chance to meet new people as the person you are now. Today. There’s no pre-determined pressure or expectation – it’s just us and our future and our future friends. What a time to be alive!