You will have life experiences in college that will challenge your senses, beliefs, assumptions, and values. These experiences may require you to think about your position in life relative to others and will give you an to see the world differently. Seize the opportunity to make friends with someone of a different race, ethnic background, nationality, sexual orientation, or disability status. You'll have an opportunity to grow in ways unimaginable.
Friendships are labs for learning to communicate, empathize, argue, and reflect.
Encounters with other who have diverse backgrounds and strongly held opinions create an atmosphere for increased tolerance, acceptance, and integrity. Personal growth involves learning to see people as they are, to respond to them as individuals instead of as representatives of a stereotype. If you're nervous about meeting new people, you're not alone. Most students feel the same way. The best way to conquer your apprehension is to extend your hand, smile, and introduce yourself.