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New Friends

edited June 2007 in General
Making friends has never been a hard thing for me.

In highschool, I had tons of friends and was able to make them quickly and easily, I guess partly because we were in the same classes together, yadda yadda yadda. But I found that once highschool ended, so did a lot of those friendships. I stayed in touch with one good friend for about two years, and then we just stopped hanging out, mostly because we went to different post-secondary schools (I went to SFU, and she went to Cap College). She began to resent me for going to SFU because she really wanted to go and couldnt get in. Other "friends" from highschool are no more than mere acquaintances really that I talk to on facebook every now and then ("how are you? Havent seen you in forever!", blah blah blah).

During university, I would hardly say that I have made friends. They are, again, acquaintances that I talk to in class and on msn when we're frantically writing last minute papers. I dont really talk to them outside of the classroom setting.

Through other people, ive made friends, but to be honest with you, they've mostly been guys. Its pretty easy for me to make friends with guys, although I know that most of them prolly wanna hook up and thats why we talk and hang out occassionally....I dont want to hook up with them btw, I have a great bf.

What I'm saying is, I want to make new friends that are GIRLS! Girls that I can talk to, go shopping with, watch movies with, drink with, whatever! And frankly, its pissing me off that I cant seem to make any cuz I honestly dont know where to look, as dumb as that sounds.

I joined an all-girls soccer scrimmage league, and all of the "girls" were older women. Fine, i guess, but im looking for girls around my age (im 21 turing 22). I get frustrated, cuz ive joined a pilates class a few years ago, and all of the girls there (surprise surprise!) were there with a friend, and its so god-damned hard to just "join" into an already existing friendship.

I know this sounds so lame, but im so frustrated and miss talking to girls :( Yes, I have my bf, but its not the same.

Comments

  • edited June 2007
    I have a similar problem as you but in my case I have too many female friends and too little guy friends. It's been 7 years since I graduated from high school and I still hang out every now and then with 2 of my friends that I had since the 9th grade. In addition, I still hang out with 2 of my other guy friends that I've made at my previous p/t job while I did my undergraduate studies.

    Currently, I work at an office and the amount of females greatly outnumber the amount of males. I have found these girls wanting to make friends with me. For example, they would invite me out to go clubbing with their friends even though I rarely do this as I'm getting old now. So I think the best way to make female friends is to befriend the girls at your job. Maybe you should make plans and invite them to come out with you?
  • edited June 2007
    It's hard to maintain a relationship, go to school full time and still have time for friends...there just isn't enough time these days. From my experience at SFU, I've seen some really close friends drift apart because of different career paths. And I mean friends that have literally grown up together! Sure their still friends and respect each other in that sense, but its pretty much impossible to find time to hang out with your friends if their not in the same field as you. Life has gotten so busy that it's just like that. I've found that the only friends you can really have are the ones that do the same things you do...so making friends in your classes is a good thing. Once you meet someone who you share some interests with (ie. shopping) just invite her out.

    Honestly, it's probably the relationship thats gotten you so out of the loop nothing else. Sometimes a little space a part is wicked. You get so used to keeping in touch with your bf/gf constantly and talking to them about everything that you end up putting a lot of distance between people that you have the potential to be friends with. Friendships take work, so just get out there and start meeting people. Say hi, smile a little or just say whats up without feeling tied down its awesome
  • edited June 2007
    You described my situation exaaaactly. I actually posted something similar on Craigslist a while ago in the platonic relationships section because I figured others would be in the same boat. I got TONS of replies and I've been emailing with some of the girls who wrote me.

    But the best thing that happened is I just regained contact with my very best female friend, who was moving and traveling for the past few years so we lost touch. I'd think about her often and now that we are able to talk and email again I feel like I've added something very important to my life. Maybe there is a past friendship that you regret losing? I'll bet that she'd be just as happy to hear from you!

    You are on the right track by participating in things you enjoy in order to meet friends. And I agree that you have to make yourself approachable and available to spend time with people. Maybe there are some SFU clubs you might want to join?

    Good luck. I know your plight!
  • edited June 2007
    I'll be your friend....
  • edited June 2007
    baby e;13347 said:
    Making friends has never been a hard thing for me.

    In highschool, I had tons of friends and was able to make them quickly and easily, I guess partly because we were in the same classes together, yadda yadda yadda. But I found that once highschool ended, so did a lot of those friendships. I stayed in touch with one good friend for about two years, and then we just stopped hanging out, mostly because we went to different post-secondary schools (I went to SFU, and she went to Cap College). She began to resent me for going to SFU because she really wanted to go and couldnt get in. Other "friends" from highschool are no more than mere acquaintances really that I talk to on facebook every now and then ("how are you? Havent seen you in forever!", blah blah blah).

    During university, I would hardly say that I have made friends. They are, again, acquaintances that I talk to in class and on msn when we're frantically writing last minute papers. I dont really talk to them outside of the classroom setting.

    Through other people, ive made friends, but to be honest with you, they've mostly been guys. Its pretty easy for me to make friends with guys, although I know that most of them prolly wanna hook up and thats why we talk and hang out occassionally....I dont want to hook up with them btw, I have a great bf.

    What I'm saying is, I want to make new friends that are GIRLS! Girls that I can talk to, go shopping with, watch movies with, drink with, whatever! And frankly, its pissing me off that I cant seem to make any cuz I honestly dont know where to look, as dumb as that sounds.

    I joined an all-girls soccer scrimmage league, and all of the "girls" were older women. Fine, i guess, but im looking for girls around my age (im 21 turing 22). I get frustrated, cuz ive joined a pilates class a few years ago, and all of the girls there (surprise surprise!) were there with a friend, and its so god-damned hard to just "join" into an already existing friendship.

    I know this sounds so lame, but im so frustrated and miss talking to girls :( Yes, I have my bf, but its not the same.
    我也做你的朋友好了吗?It's ok.
  • edited June 2007
    baby e;13347 said:



    During university, I would hardly say that I have made friends. They are, again, acquaintances that I talk to in class and on msn when we're frantically writing last minute papers. I dont really talk to them outside of the classroom setting.

    Haha, I feel your pain. I moved from Ontario with my family, so I don't live in residence, which is obviously not good if you want to meet people. I've only met like 2 actual people at school, and I've never hung out with them outside of class. I get the feeling that in a place like vancouver alot of people are in closely knit groups. Ie/ you have your highschooll friends that go to SFU, or you just go to SFU and then go home and go out with your other friends. This seems especially true since I'm betting unlike my old town, not many people leave after highschool...so it's really easy to stay in touch with old friends. Sorta annoying, I know. Can't say I have a solution for it (the only friends I have are ones that I pretty much knew before I moved away the first time) since I hardly know anyone up at SFU, but I can say that I emphathize. Try joining some more clubs next year or somethin:P
  • edited June 2007
    My closest friends, the ones that I actually enjoy hanging out with outside of school are mostly the ones I made growing up and in high school. That doesn't mean that it's impossible to make friends in university, but the fact is that it takes time for true friendships to build.
  • edited June 2007
    The people I work with are older. I work in an office right now for the summer. And i dont really want to work in a restaurant again as a waitress just so that i can make friends there.

    There has to be some sort of thing i can join, like a class or something like a hobbie where i can meet other girls my age. Ive tried the clubs thing at school and, no offense to those that like the clubs, but i find that they are all rather boring and sucky. I was apart of one once and that didnt turn out too well.

    And yah, there are two people from highschool that i would love to get in touch with again, but have no idea how to do it. I dont have emails and they're not on facebook from what i can see. :( The craigslist thing is an idea, ive thought about that one, but i dunno. Seems like you might attract some weird people, but maybe not.
  • edited June 2007
    Magnificent_Bastard;13370 said:
    I'll be your friend....
    this must be one of those guys that baby e mentioned near the end of her first post.

    PERVERT!
    it's really cause online messaging/communities creates distance even though it's supposed to bring you closer. why go take the effor tand meet up to talk etc when you can just do it at the comfort of your own seat, therefore not being able to meet as many people. personally i find it hard meeting people online eg. via facebook etc, easier if it's through friends during outings.so i blame the interweb.
  • edited June 2007
    this calls for a group hug :boy_hug:
  • edited June 2007
    *hug*
  • edited June 2007
    I was going to offer to be your friend, but then you said you have a bf, and I lost all interest. :p

    Seriously though, I've found that people are a bit shy. Try not to be too aggressive, and thus annoying and clingy, but also don't just let nice people fade away, because you don't want to ask them to hang out. It's a fine line to walk.

    I was lucky that about 60% of my high school went to SFU. Made the transition easier.

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