Tip #1 Uni Friendships

I’m posting one takeaway each day this week from my first semester at uni. What actually helped, what surprised me, and what I’d tell someone starting fresh. Let me know if any of it hits home!

You might not make close friends straight away, and that’s okay.
I didn’t walk out of my first week at uni with a tight-knit group of friends.
To be honest, I still don’t have “best friends” on campus. But I’ve built something else. Something that matters just as much.

Familiarity. Recognition. Shared momentum.

Going to workshops, panels, and student events (especially UTS Women in Business) meant I started seeing the same faces again and again. People began to remember me. They remembered my name. I started feeling seen, and that was a real moment of connection.
Sometimes we expect university friendships to mirror high school or pop culture. You show up, you click with someone, and suddenly you’ve got a group chat and weekend plans. But in real life? It’s slower. More layered. And that’s okay.

Friendship at uni doesn’t always look like a bonded trio in the library. Sometimes it’s:
- a warm hello from someone in the hallway
- sitting near each other at an event
- showing up consistently and slowly building trust

Connection builds over time, in shared spaces, with gentle effort.
If you haven’t found “your people” yet, don’t panic.
Just give it time. Familiarity becomes friendship.