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A story about having a difficult time making new friends due to feeling held back by friends from high school. <\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"CC BY-NC-ND","title":"Untitled Text","authors":[{"name":"LKP99","role":"Author"}],"licenseVersion":"4.0"},"subContentId":"5b2a8683-5ecc-4fc3-ab8b-3654c84d6683"},"title":"Roommate Debate by Andrew MacKay"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"

When I arrived at university, I came with two good friends from high school. I thought it would provide me with a sense of comfort knowing that no matter what I always had two good friends I could rely on, but the opposite happened. My two friends did not want to meet anyone new at Trent, and thought because we worked so well together, meeting new people was not something that they thought was necessary. I struggled to move on from them, as they were in very different programs from myself, we began to see differently on many things and I could feel us slowly growing apart. They got upset when I tried to meet new people, claiming I was \u201cditching\u201d them. This problem lasted for most of my first year at university, and it really destroyed my experience, especially seeing people I knew from high school go off to other universities and make so many great experiences and meet great people.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"7a19fd06-f480-4968-afb5-ca6df77c2a44"},"title":"The Wicked Problem"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"

Going into my second year of university I knew I could not let what happened in first year happen again. Throughout the summer I began to fantasize about how I would meet new people, putting myself out there as an individual, whether it would be scary, exciting, or both. On the first day of second year I sat myself down in the Math Resource Room (located in Gzowski College at Trent University) and said to myself \u201cI am not leaving this room until I make friends\u201d. What was convenient about the Resource Room was it was known as the hangout spot for Math students at Trent. Prof\u2019s offices were just down the hall so it was easy to ask a question if we were working on a tough assignment problem, and it was a convenient way to meet other students in math at Trent. I did just that, and the result was better than I could have imagined. I met a dozen or so students in that first month back, just by being friendly, saying hello to them, and asking a few math related questions.<\/p>\n\n

I continued my good streak and joined the Math Club at Trent (it\u2019s a lot cooler than it sounds) and met other fellow students by planning Math related events such as Pi day, where on March 14th math students and professors get together and chat about math related topics, and eat pie of course. That club again provided me with a great avenue to meet fellow students and professors, expanding my social network and giving me great experience hosting events.<\/p>\n\n

If I was to give advice to someone in my shoes, it would be ensuring that you have boundaries set up with your friends going into University. It is a tough conversation to have, but it is a necessary one. Even something as simple as telling them you want to spend orientation week apart, and explain that you and your friends can all go meet new people, then introduce them to each other once classes start. A conversation as simple as this can go a long way, and it can prevent your first year from being more or less ruined like mine was.<\/p>\n\n

I still know my two friends from high school, and unfortunately we have really grown apart at university. This was expected, as the three of us are in very different programs and we were all pulled in different directions. There is the odd time we will still hang out as a group, but I think a big lesson I learned about this Wicked Problem was not holding onto the past. In life, your thoughts, opinions, and goals will always be changing, and with this comes new surroundings and new people. You want these challenges, as that means you are growing, but you cannot let the people from your past hold you back. It can be very difficult to let someone from your past go, especially if they were one of your best friends, but you have to always do what is best for you and go your own way.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"97760d2f-c424-4d58-8bda-df85f4b696b7"},"title":"Finding a Solution"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"

I know more than anyone that it can be extremely tough standing up to someone, or multiple people, who are controlling. It will be some of the toughest things you have to do, but these challenges are necessary to move forward with your life. Letting yourself be dragged down by other people is a horrible feeling, and you do not deserve to be treated that way. Moreover, meeting new people is one of the best things you can do with your time. You could meet a future colleague, spouse, or best friend this way. Never be afraid to stand up to people to do what is best for you.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"49d4876b-f10b-43ae-9b72-b457c0d92b99"},"title":"Final Thoughts"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"

MacKay, A. (2021, October 15). Roommate Debate<\/em>. Liberated Learners. <\/span>https:\/\/wicked.liberatedlearner.ca\/collaborator\/roommate-debate\/<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n

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Roommate Debate

Liam Peart