Have you ever felt alone in a crowded room?

Have you felt like your conversations with your friends seem one-sided?

Do you feel like your friends do not quite understand who you “really” are?

It is completely normal to feel misunderstood from time-to-time, even among the people whom we love.  Moreover, this feeling can be even worse as a student trying to meet new people.  UCI has close to 40,000 students and classes change every 3 months!  These kinds of numbers can make it seem daunting that a true authentic relationship can be made.  The first thing you need to know is that many students feel this way, and we are all looking for connections.

Check out some of these tips related to seeking authentic relationships:

• Be honest
  • You deserve to be understood and have people respect your feelings. Allow your friends to feel with you.  Often times, sharing in both joy and sorrow, deepens relationships.
• Ask open-ended questions
  • Conversations can often seem dry and distant when we resort to the “easier” types of close-ended questions. Try asking about the details of a persons’ life.
• Follow-up
  • Provide updates on your life; especially when people showed interest. Also, follow-up on the lives of your friends and the things that they are pursuing.
• Invite
  • We all want to be included but we also do not want to be turned down. Consider taking a step out of your comfort zone and inviting people to a social gathering.  This can show people that you are interested in the relationship and they may reciprocate.