College is filled with people, even on the smallest campuses it is impossible to take a walk without passing a professor or student on your way to the cafeteria. Forming human connections is one of the greatest benefits of attending college because there is such a vast variety of personalities to meet and learn from.
I go to college at Pace University in New York, but I have met people from all over. My freshman year suitemate was from California, my sophomore year roommate is from Colorado, and one of my friends is all the way from Sweden. I met a girl from the UK, a girl from Italy, and I even know of a professor from Russia. Meeting people from all over the country, let alone the globe, I have learned about many different ways of life in contrast to my own.
Thinking back, my mindset during my freshman year was very closed. I was open to forming bonds with new people, but I was hesitant to adapt and accept other opinions or perspectives that differed from my own. It took time, but throughout the course of my freshman and sophomore years I began to find the value in learning from others. My Swedish friend, for example, taught me how to be an effective listener. I had always had a lot of confidence in my own listening skills, but once I talked to her I realized that my skills could use improvement. She was always physically attentive and maintained consistent eye contact while I talked. She gave relevant responses and questions that emphasized her engagement. My roommate from Colorado taught me the importance of living life loosely. I remember feeling very rigid in my routine when I first started school, but he taught me to live freer and enjoy smaller things. I have many meaningful memories of the two of us laughing hysterically over the simplest things as we walked to class. Even though the things we laughed about were simple, I don’t remember finding things as funny before he taught me to live the way that he did. My freshman year suitemate from California taught me how to be kinder than I already was. We had many conversations about injustices and the way that people were mistreated and it really helped me to gain a deeper appreciation and compassion for others. I played a part in this dynamic too. I, like my friends, contributed to the college social sphere of growth and development, offering and imparting my own talents and skills to my friends.
I never expected to learn so much from the people around me. I always did my best to listen to my friends and be the best possible friend that I could, but I never realized how much I could learn from their words and stories. In many ways, the lessons and messages that I have gotten from friends have impacted me far deeper than any of the coursework I have read throughout my time in school. There are certain things that texts simply cannot convey as powerfully as real human connections can.
One of the most purposeful elements that has impacted my sociality has been The Andy Griffith Show. A friend of mine from back home had introduced me to the show a while back and while I was looking for a new show to watch at college, I came across his recommendation. The show follows a widowed sheriff, Andy Taylor, and his adventures within a close knit community in small town Mayberry, North Carolina. The show is very wholesome and many of the interactions between the characters are very genuine and compassionate. I watched about six seasons of it throughout my first two years at college and it informed a great deal of my social decisions and values. The characters make many mistakes throughout the show: losing their tempers and hurting the people close to them, acting on their irrational fears as well as gossiping behind each other’s backs. The Andy Griffith Show teaches forgiveness. Despite the imperfections of each character, everybody remains close with one another, remaining united and connected. The close-knit community of fictional Mayberry remains so intact on account of the community’s persistence and faith in each other.
None of the people I have met at college have been perfect. The people I have grown to love and care for at college have made mistakes, including myself. These mistakes were often rare and with no ill intentions, making it easy to forgive and forget. This is not always the case, however. Sometimes people will consistently make decisions that will negatively affect others and it can be hard to forgive someone who does not make an effort to change their harmful behavior.
Human relationships can be very complicated and it can be challenging to find the right people. The idea of meeting so many new people can be intimidating, but it can serve as a significant learning opportunity for students. These human connections can help people grow and branch out; college serves as a great space for strengthening bonds with others.
By Ryder Huseby
Ryder is going into his Junior year as a Writing and Rhetoric major at Pace University in Pleasantville, New York. Ryder is a passionate reader and enjoys going to the movie theater as often as he can.
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