It was the first day at what was now to be my new home for the next for years and it was the beginning of the orientation experience. I was very nervous to meet all these new people and had many questions to be answered. Would I make any friends? Where is this or that? But the experience began anyway with the usual ice breakers. I began to try to make connections with people and attempt to find stuff that I had in common with them.
Eventually we get around to the question of what sport you play. The boy next to me mentions how he plays soccer to the group and after everyone goes around we get to chatting about soccer. We eventually found out that we had other things in common whether it be the same taste in music or coming from the same state. It was from this initial experience that I had that I was able to draw a few lessons from this. I found that if you are willing to take that initial gamble and say something it can result in something great.
This lesson can even be applied to things outside of just socializing and is something that can be used in day to day life. It also surprised me how I was able to quickly make a connection with someone and find something like that in common. This experience also showed me how the university is set up to help you succeed in the way that it places you in these positions that give you the opportunity to succeed.