As an incoming first-year student, it’s okay to be nervous. After all, a huge part of why you come to university is to start a new chapter of your life, which includes meeting new people.
I was no stranger to this introduction to Brock, as I didn’t even know one other person at the school before dropping my bags off in Decew and waving goodbye to my parents. Try not to overthink the social anxieties that come with meeting new folks around campus; many of them just so happen to be in the same boat as you, simply trying to figure out who their friend group might be for arguably the most important year of their academic career.
The dining hall
For those of you who have the pleasure of living in residence for your first year at Brock, there isn’t a better place to start meeting people than the dining hall. Whether it’s Decew or Lowenberger, this is where most students will have their first interactions with others living on residence through conversation during meal times. All it takes is seeing someone eating alone or hearing a group of people talking about something of interest, to ask to sit with them and potentially make yourself a friend.
Both dining halls provide ample space, with unique seating arrangements that allow students to have their own bubble to talk while still just a few feet away from their next potential friend group. There will always be people in the dining halls, no matter the time; however, the most popular times are during the early evening hours, when many are looking to enjoy a nice dinner.
The dining hall is a great place to start meeting new people. If you have access to Decew or Lowenberger dining services, you undoubtedly have a leg up on the rest of your fellow freshmen beginning their university journey.
Walker Sports Complex
Staying active and healthy go hand in hand with studying while at university. Your brain needs a break from the books and the screens, and what better way to let off some energy than moving your body? This is not an ad for the Brock gym, I promise, but it is another opportunity to connect with fellow Brock newcomers who might be in the same position as you.
Whether you’re an inexperienced gym-goer, a regular at drop or a guru on the weights, the Walker Sports Complex is a prime location to meet people with similar interests to you. For starters, there’s the Zone: the university weight room where regulars you walk past every day can become your best friends, starting with just a single conversation.
If you aren’t fond of the weight room, there are endless opportunities for drop-in sports, including volleyball, badminton, pickleball and basketball. The latter is where I personally made some of my closest friends, with whom I shared some of the fondest memories on the courts.
Finally, if you want to get into a weekly routine with some familiar faces, why not try the offered fitness programs such as spin, yoga or work with a personal trainer? These are great opportunities to connect with and relate to other people who share similar ambitions as you while staying active.
Clubs and events
During the first week of school, Brock events begin with some of the most exciting and welcoming of the bunch on your first day. Welcome Week is a great time to meet others, as it’s when people are actively trying to find new friends while roaming around campus. Events such as the grape stomp and glow party are just two examples of fun, interactive activities where you can introduce yourself to your fellow students.
As the weeks go by, the events will continue and provide ample opportunity to connect with people. Some of the most popular events at Brock include The Steel Blade Classic and Paint the Meridian Red. These two sporting events are where all kinds of students gather in the Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines to cheer on both the men’s and women’s hockey and basketball teams.
As for the clubs at Brock, there’s just about any sort of interest you can imagine. If none of the options above have given you any luck meeting new friends, what better way to do so than by joining a club of one of your niche interests. You’re guaranteed to have things in common with people at a club you’re interested in, so take advantage of that by joining as many as possible.
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Although there are several other opportunities out there to meet new people at Brock, these three options above are where I found myself the most successful at doing so during my first year at university. It’s almost inevitable that you run into your future best friend at one point or another in your first year, as long as you make sure to put in a considerate effort to get outside your comfort zone and do the best you can.