You sound like an absolute bore and have the least amount of patience in the world. What are you expecting, “besties” the first day?

Maybe you aren’t that good at first impressions?

The irony of this column comes from Hinson writing about the desire to get past the superficial introductions at the beginning of the year by writing the newspaper equivalent of a superficial introduction. Columns and opinion articles are supposed to give a unique perspective on topics and issues that typical journalists don’t cover because they lack the knowledge, experience, necessity, or time to report on them. They are not meant to be 500 words of self-indulgent preaching about probably the one experience through which every, and I mean EVERY, UNC student has been. What freshman really needs to be told about a daily truth they are already quite aware of and are currently handling in the same way? After that first week of introducing your name, your hometown, your dorm, and your major, EVERY freshman wants to get past the superficiality and find their real friends. If you want an intimate relationship, start forming one with your readers. Write about how it is different to live in Granville from living in the dorms (not original, but it could be useful to freshman considering making the jump). You’re a business major, so write about why you have settled on a major so early while others are still not sure. What inspired you to become a business major? Why did you choose to go to college, instead of just starting a business? What do you need to learn? I’m sure more than a few freshmen would be interested to hear how a peer came to this difficult conclusion. I’m sure you have dozens of other interests and views that could be interesting to the freshmen of this campus.

You said, “It’s time to say, ‘Hey, let’s talk.’” Well, Hinson, let’s talk.

Oh wow, another freshman who thinks he is different because he yearns to “feel an authentic connection”. How original. Maybe if you calmed down for a second and got over your pretensions you would realize that you have been on campus for under three weeks and that building relationships with other people takes time. Do you honestly believe that you are going to walk into Econ class and the person next to you is going to share his dreams and deepest thoughts with you? That sounds like the most forced and fake way to build a friendship. No, friendships start with an introduction and if you start closing yourself off to that so early into the game because you are just too deep and thoughtful of an individual to be bothered by such a trivial task then you are going to have a very lonely four years.

Hey Hinson, I totally understand. As a senior, I can remember how difficult being a freshman was. I came from a small town where only 4 others came to UNC from my graduating class…and we really weren’t that close back home. I felt like I started all over when I came to school. Then, classes started and along with that came pointless introductions to large classes…and while that helped in my recitations and labs…in a 200 person class, I felt it was a little ridiculous.

Now, the best thing I can tell you to do (to find real friends) is to join an organization or 3. There, you’ll find people with common interests and goals…whether that’s religion, politics, or whatever. Trust me, you’re more likely to find friends in one of these “clubs” than in a 200 person class. I would know…while a few of my friends are from my classes….most of them came from Cornerstone or The Summit (where I go to Church)…or my very small professional school cohort.

Read more …

I hope this doesn’t turn out to be true for you, but it was for most people I know: most of your relationships for several months will be out of convenience — the people on your hall, random acquaintances from classes that happen to have the same lunch break, etc. Freshman year is scary enough to drive most people to just hang around whoever is willing and available.

The good news — you will eventually make real friends, with whom you share interests and passions and humor. Ashley’s right; these things take time.