Whether it’s someone you randomly meet online, or a total stranger assigned by housing, take the leap and introduce yourself to anyone on your floor. College is all about stepping outside of your comfort zone. Your hometown friends will always be there, but there’s something incredibly special about the bond you can form with someone who starts out as a stranger and becomes a lifelong friend.
Working on campus will give you a little extra spending money for breaks and is also a way to meet people outside your major and routine. Apply for a job at a dining hall or the MSU Dairy Store, and you’ll be surprised how much you grow just by meeting a variety of students and learning to work with all personality types.
Some of my favorite MSU memories weren’t official events, they were moments we created ourselves at home. Host game nights, potlucks, barbecues, or movie marathons. One tradition I’ll always cherish is the Room Crawl my roommates and I came up with each bedroom offering a drink, snack, and game. We did it every year, and it’s something I’ll miss dearly.
College gets chaotic, but taking care of your body helps your mind too. Find a routine that works for you such as a walk around campus, free group fitness classes at the IM gyms, or join an intramural team just for fun (volleyball, soccer, dodgeball—you name it).
Don't just join to fill a resume, join because you love what they do. VIM Magazine and the MSU Entrepreneurship Association brought me friendships, inspiration, and community. When you're surrounded by people who are just as passionate as you, you might just learn more than in one of your IAH courses.
Even if you’re not a huge sports fan, go to a game. Say go-green to all that walk by! Feel the energy in the air during a basketball night at the Breslin or a tailgate for football at Spartan Stadium. Spartan spirit is real—it runs deep, and you’ll miss it once you're gone.
Don’t just stick to the same table in the library. Try the 1855 Marketplace, the Business College lounge, dorm basements, the new Multicultural Center, or the classic corner of the Main Library. Find places that inspire focus and calm; they’ll become your little sanctuaries, like the rapids, which was my personal favorite.
Introduce yourself. Most people want to connect; they’re just waiting for someone to break the ice. Making a friend or two in each class will not only make the experience more enjoyable, but it builds your network within your major. You’ll start to figure out the kind of people you want to grow alongside and if your major is the right path for you.
Whether it’s Crunchy’s karaoke night, The Peanut Barrel trivia, or Dublin Square’s Y2K night, go! Balance your academics with meaningful experiences that help you build deep, lasting bonds with the people who will become your second family.
It’s easy to stay in the East Lansing bubble, but there’s so much more to see. Take the time to venture out—my personal favorites are the MSU museum, Abrams Planetarium, Hooked, Horrocks Market, Sushi Moto, Ohana Sushi and Bar, Lake Lansing Park - South, and Curious Book Shop. Lansing is full of hidden gems and festivals, so go explore!
