Kingston University Student Alice And Her Friends Talk about Meeting People at Uni

Hi my name is Alice. I'm a third year Fine Art and Art History student at Kingston University and I'm a student ambassador. A few days ago I had a BBQ as we have finished our degree show now, we have finished uni, And I spoke to a few friends about how to make friends at uni and their experiences of getting to know people and things to do, places to meet etc. So yeah - here comes the video! (Alice) How did you find making friends at university? Were you nervous beforehand or, what tips can you give any prospective students? (Issy) I was nervous beforehand. I would recommend communal eating and drinking. (Alice) Ah yes! (Issy)And ask everyone where they're from and then you compare accents and, you know, find common interests such as eating and drinking and then it goes from there really. (Alice)So how did this start? How did our friendship start? (Issy) Oh god Buttercup I don't even remember, it seems so long ago now, it feels like we've always known each other! (Alice) I know, it's just crazy! (Issy) But there was a time when we were just both two scared students weren't we? (Alice) Yeah, we were two lonely students. I remember being in that interview room, scared by those other girls who were, she's over there actually, yeah; she's actually all right! (Issy)They all came round in the end didn't they? (Alice)Yeah they all came round in the end. (Issy) They thought we were a bit quirky at first, because we like to wear props, but I think they understood us in the end and that's what counts. (Alice) I do, yeah, and I think a really good way of making friends is by dressing up, and you know, embracing any characteristic that you have and becoming a new character. (Issy) I found dressing up was really liberating because sometimes I felt that being me wasn't enough, so giving myself that extra bit meant it could be fun! (Alice)It could be fun! (Issy)It could be fun, test yourself! (Alice) But, you know it's also important to embrace who you are and like don't let that go. (Alice) Hey Izzy! (Issy) Hey! (Alice)So that last, yeah that last blog was, we were a bit drunk and you know, a little bit merry, so we'll take a time out and we'll talk in a kind of more serious manner. (Issy) Ok, honesty. (Alice) Honesty, yeah we were honest before, it's just we were just a little bit drunk, but yeah. So before you came to uni did you have any worries about making friends or about settling in and like what ways do you think were the best ways of making friends to get you kind of initiated at university I guess? (Issy) Yeah, no I definitely had worries about making friends and stuff. I remember people trying to add me on Facebook and they were these people who, there was, I didn't realise but there was a Facebook group and basically if you knew you were going to Kingston you could join and then you could even like, write what, like, flat number you had been assigned and that way you could find people in your flat and stuff, you know, and I guess you could get to know them a bit before you actually saw them in person. I don't know, I had a bit of a prejudice; I don't know I had kind of pre-judgements about that. I was a bit like hmm, if I go on the internet and start meeting people beforehand will they think I'm a geek, blah, blah, blah, but then, like I remember I got there and everybody else kind of seemed to know each other and I was like, I should have like kind of done that, but then at the same time, god it was just like so much easier than I thought it would be, and it's just, just asking questions, showing interest in people and then it's surprising how much you find in common and I think if you show an interest in other people, they'll naturally show an interest in you and it's just a matter of conversation and it's just, it just takes somebody to make the first step so you might as well be the one to do it, you know. (Alice) Yeah. (Issy) If you're brave then it makes you seem a lot more confident and people kind of naturally, kind of move to confident people because, like it's easier I guess. (Alice)Yeah that's true. I remember that Facebook group and I remember like scrolling down all the numbers like, "I'm in 11AC", or whatever, or all these things. (Issy)Yeah. (Alice) And I remember being really scared about looking at who the person was, it's like, I don't know. (Issy) Completely! But also I would note, I think you should note that like you shouldn't, if you do add them on this Facebook group and you go through their pictures, don't judge them on their pictures. (Alice) Yeah. (Issy) Because when you do get to know them in person it's a completely different story. (Alice) Yeah, ok thank you! (Issy) That's all right! (Alice and Issy)Bye! Bye!