When I was 15, I enrolled in college (back then they were called vocational schools) and moved to another city. If I could give advice to that 15-year-old now, it would probably be the following. College – it's more than just attending classes and passing exams well. The best memories will still be connected with friends.  So, start your first semester with new friends. The idea of meeting new people can cause anxiety and insecurity. Here are 3 tips on how to make new friends in college and deal with the excitement:

1. Be yourself.

Always stay true to yourself, your life principles, and interests. When meeting new people, there is a temptation to try to appear perfect. But how long can you pretend? Be yourself, and you will «attract» into your circle people who share your spirit and interests. What does it mean to be yourself?  It means loving yourself and following your dreams, listening to your body, which through intuition will guide you if you've veered off or you're with the wrong person, remembering your needs and keeping your focus on your goal – why are you here and where are you going?

See also: The only and true path - when you follow your dream. .

2. Maintain relationships only if you want to.

The very thought that you need to meet and befriend everyone can already be stressful. There's no need to try and make a lot of friends; it's better to focus on quality rather than quantity. To grow and move towards your goals, you need energy and strength, so don't waste resources – physical, mental, soulful, emotional, valuable, and vital – on random people.

See also: Why it's important to let children be angry and how to do it correctly. .

3. Think of yourself first.

There is no need to say «yes» to every gathering or party you're invited to. Before saying «yes» to others, think if you're currently saying «no» to yourself.  It's about not abandoning your beliefs or values to meet new people. It's important to care for yourself first. Train the balance between sincerity and politeness, and always express if something doesn't suit you or bothers you. Speak sincerely, wrapping your thoughts in a polite formula. Use the format «I-message»: talk about yourself, your feelings, and say that the topic of conversation, communication style, behavior, etc., causes you negative reactions, and to continue communication, adjustments need to be made.

Everyone we meet at least once in our life subtly changes us and our outlook on the world (even if it's a fleeting meeting or a person with a set of negative qualities, etc.). Someone teaches us to be kinder, wiser, more tolerant, and stronger. And someone, on the contrary, pushes us to be more persistent in realizing our plans and standing up for our interests, respecting our boundaries or the boundaries of others, etc. Only we, through our daily actions, emotions, and thoughts, have the power to create our destiny. Therefore, remember these rules, and they will help you establish relationships with new people and at the same time take care of yourself.

See also: If you need psychological help urgently, confidentially, and without leaving home, it's only online. .

iPsycholog - Your psychologist online