Orientation leaders agree Grounds offers endless opportunities to meet new people – if you choose to engage with them. (Photo by Emily Faith Morgan, University Communications; illustration by John DiJulio, University Communications)
The University of Virginia is the perfect place to make lifelong friends and connections, but first you have to find them. For newcomers, or even returning wallflowers, it can be hard to connect with strangers and get out of your comfort zone.
Fear not. UVA orientation leaders will soon help many of you settle into your slice of Grounds and they have some advice. You can also check out the orientation leader directory for a full list of leaders and what they’d love to talk to you about.
Arianna Lawton, a second-year kinesiology major from Virginia Beach, encourages everyone to “say yes to new opportunities! Go to club meetings, ask your classmates to start a study group, meet up for coffee with a friend, etc. The opportunities to build relationships here are endless.” If you see Lawton, feel free to ask her about study spots on Grounds, good eats around Charlottesville and Camp Kesem.
Owen Leshner, a second-year interested in political philosophy and law, says to embrace nervousness as a first-year. “The more open I was with the way that I felt, the more I found community with fellow new students over our shared feelings in a new and unfamiliar environment,” he said. Leshner is happy to chat about pre-law opportunities and club sports.
Ari Rodriguez, a second-year Posse Scholar from Woodbridge, advises new students looking for community to expand their horizons. “Do not worry too much about finding friends in a specific place,” she said, “rather, try different activities, and you will find great friends in everything you do.” She loves making new friends and is happy to talk multicultural events, resources for first-generation students, and the Venezuelan band Rawayana.
Menna Helal, a second-year student from Gainesville interested in neuroscience, encourages others to “get lunch with people you meet in class, clubs, or other social events. It’s one thing that personally helped me extend my relationships past the classroom. Even the small act of getting coffee can go a long way.” Talk to her about pre-med classes, Greek life and mental health resources.
Christina Okenquist, a fourth-year biology major from Roanoke, suggests you “just say ‘hello.’ There are so many people eager to share their passions and interests with you.” If you see her, ask about volunteer opportunities, dining at UVA or pre-med classes and clubs.
Nathan Flyzik is the program coordinator for Orientation & Transition Programs at UVA. He’s been in Charlottesville for almost two years and says the No. 1 thing anybody new or returning to town should do is be curious about the community. “If a friend offers you to go do something, start with ‘yes’ if you have the time and just go for it. Sometimes we come in with an idea of how an experience will go, but there will be many surprises. It doesn’t always go to plan, but sometimes it doesn’t go to plan in the best way possible.”
As a staff member, Flyzik’s favorite thing to do is attend community events, like Fridays After 5 on the Downtown Mall. During orientation season, he enjoys events organized by other departments. “Multicultural Student Services always puts up a reception, and it’s a good place for people to meet,” he said.
Flyzik encourages all students to check out Wahoo Welcome, a program his office facilitates in collaboration with other offices around the University to welcome Wahoos back to Grounds. Events run through the first six weeks of the fall semester and aim to build community and relationships.
Michelle Bair is director of Hoos First, which supports first-generation and limited-income students. She suggests new and transferring students find similar spaces to the ones they enjoyed in their last schools.
She also recommends diversifying social activities and not letting one interest dominate your Hoo life. “Even if you’re into the arts, all your friend groups should not center on the arts,” Bair said. “College is the time for figuring out who you are as an adult; no need to limit yourself.”
One of her favorite things to do is walk around Grounds when the weather is nice. “It helps me discover new spaces and get a better sense of what the community is overall,” she said.
Have a burning question for our crack team of UVA historians, experts, students and staff to answer? Send your queries to HoosAsking@virginia.edu.
December 30, 2024
