Still feeling out of place after O-Week has come and gone? That’s completely normal! It can feel like everyone has found their group already, but trust me, you will find yours in many different places on campus. Below are some of the avenues where I made friends in undergrad!
Get out and do stuff
Don’t forget, there are plenty of events happening on campus after O-Week! Be sure to attend events in residence, with the Off-Campus Council (for first-year students living off-campus in Halifax) or events on campus in general. Keep tabs on what's happening on campus with the Events & Calendars on DalU.
Sit with new people in class often
This may seem a bit nerve-wracking to some of us, but it almost forces you to meet new people. Of course, don’t chat during the lecture, but introduce yourself to the people around you during downtime! You can even form study groups to meet outside of class. Bonding over coursework or studying for an exam can bring people together.
Join student societies
This is a great way to meet people who share your interests. There’s a big society fair, usually the second or third week of each semester, where each society has a booth to answer your questions and let you join! I recommend finding one that fits a personal interest of yours (e.g. outdoors, film, women in sports, etc.) and one that represents your program (e.g. Management, Psychology, Computer Science, etc.). That way, you can meet a variety of new people! You can check out all the current societies on the DSU site.
Get involved with cultural groups
Dal has many support resources for specific communities on campus. For example, the Black Student Advising Centre (BSAC), the Indigenous Student Centre (ISC), and the International Centre (IC) have great spaces, activities, and amenities for students who identify with these communities. Keep up to date with their social media pages and attend their events!
Lastly, don’t overthink it- finding your people takes time, and these people WILL change over the course of your time at university! This is a normal part of life, so embrace it and make connections anywhere you can!