DON’T expect your freshman orientation buddies to be your real buddies

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Don’t feel pressured to make your friends at orientation; you’ll have plenty of time and opportunity to do that once the school year starts. (Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

We get it — freshman orientation can seem like a big deal because it’s the first large social opportunity in college. Here, you get a spoonful of what college is really about right before the main course called “Freshman Year” is served and you’re back to worrying about the potentially life-changing year ahead. Some hopeful orientation-goers may view this as a crucial time to make friends, but let’s face it: Freshman orientation buddies are simply people you are randomly paired up with — like a preliminary, test-run encounter — meaning you have no reason to stay friends with them unless you spark a genuine connection. Once week one of fall quarter comes around, you’ll be able to choose your friends from classes or student organizations (which UCR in specific has over 500 of) and find people you are more compatible with. So if you lose touch with those “buddies” from orientation, don’t sweat it. Freshman year offers ample time and opportunities to befriend those you better connect with.