Evening star., 1940-01-14
THIS WEEK MAGAZINE

college been what you expected? Have
things gone we'll? Or are you dis
appointed?
If everything has been wonderful -
if you are naturally gregarious and
adaptable, if you have made the fresh
man team or whatever else you tried
for, if you have plenty OF friends, if
you are likely to make the fraternity
Tor the sorority of your choice - then
certainly you are not in need OF this
advice!
But if you have somehow drifted to
the outside edge of the student groups,
it might be we'll to find out where you
are, where you want to 60, and if pos
sible which direction to take to get
there
To begin. you might ask why you
came to college? Was your purpose
serious or casual? Was it to study for
definitely chosen career? Was it to
acquire college degree because it is
likely to be an advantage no matter
what sort of job you decide later on
you are fitted for? Or was it a reputa-
tion in sports at school which led you
to believe that similar success at the
university would lead to opportunity
in business? Or was it the belief,
typical OF yesterday. that going to COL
lege meant the pursuit OF culture. COM
bined with a good time and the max
ing Of many. many friends?
The making of friends is certainly
normal objective. If you are finding
yourself more or less lonely. you might
ask yourself what you have done to
make yourself liked. A pleasant smile
and good manners are good building
materials as far as they 60. but you
can't do much building without ce-
ment to hold the materials together.
If you are drawing into your shell
at every approach, and waiting for a
mind-reader to discern how likable
you are and coax you out. get busy
at once. Go and volunteer for which
ever activity needs help. Don't get
it into your mind that there is nothing
for you to do. because you couldn't
make the football team, or are too
slow on skates to play hockey. or
can't hit a ball out of the diamond.
How about the managing end?
If you have no star possibilities in
athletics - or their management -
how about the glee club. or the dra-
matte society or the debating team?
How about working as reporter? Or
how about working on the drive for
the college endowment? Remember,
the worthwhile people of today are
those who do things. Also, nothing is
more conducive to general friendship
than interests shared in common.
The best way Of all. however. to
make friends is to like people enough
to be interested in them. and to be
outgiving and friendly. No, don't read
this rule glibly! An interested and out
giving person is very rare. Most OF us
60 through life mentally cotton
wrapped in our own affairs. We 60
about thinking of what we are going
to do, what we hope or fear is going to
happen to u.s. Only few amongst US
are aware of the effect that our un-
thinking speech or behavior is quite
plainly having upon the feelings of
others. Another mistake we make is in
thinking that we ourselves must al
ways be interesting. 1t is far more
important to be always interested in
others.
A question l am often asked is
why those who are very brilliant are
seldom among the very popular. The
reasons are many. For one thing, they
make the less clever feel inferior. This
is especially true of very clever girl.
The average man shuns her. and the
equally clever man resents her rivalry.
Her friends, therefore, are limited to
those who are much cleverer than she,