Opportunities are everywhere

As the school season reaches us, many of us face our fears and weaknesses all over again. In most cases there is a whole new batch of people that you may have to interact with on a daily basis. That really can be scary for a lot of people. As an upperclassmen I have the benefit of experience when it comes to college, and it still makes me feel uncomfortable. Another benefit of being an upperclassman that helps combat that anxiety is through all of the confidence that has been instilled in me by the staff and faculty of the school. In one week I have already had to go through 5 meetings, lasting from 3-6 hours, and despite the annoying length of them, I have actually learned some new approaches to meeting new people.
One technique that really stood out to me was putting on their shoes. No... not literally. I mean more along the lines of thinking about what they have to go through. Put on their glasses for a couple minutes and realize that it takes a lot of courage to enter an environment where you know only one or two people. Treat new people with kindness and compassion and it'll really make a nice impression on that person. Treat them the way that you would want to be treated in the situation. As far as we know, this stranger sitting across from you could be your new best friend, and all it could take is saying hi to find out. I know this is much easier said than done, but reaching out to someone new could make their whole day.
Another little tip that I've picked up has to do with your own attitude towards life. I liked this method because it has somewhat typical meditative qualities, but is much easier and less time consuming. Any time you're feeling down in the dumps or angry, take a couple deep breaths, and pick a random person you know. Close your eyes and genuinely wish them well. It is much harder to be in a bad frame of mind when you're genuinely wishing someone well. It almost tricks your own mind to have a good day yourself.
I hope these tips can help someone gain a new friend, or make your day better. The new environment can be scary at first, but most of the time people are worth the risk. You may not do well at first, but be persistent, because there are constant opportunities to make a day better.