You might not think of reading as a social practice, but let’s think about what it even means to be a “better” friend. The trouble lies in that word: doesn’t better depend entirely upon the situation, on that particular friend’s present needs or concerns?

Dating in college is complex. People are figuring out who they are and what they want, and many are finally getting the opportunity to have relationships with people that aren’t based on “we’re of the same group, so I guess we’re friends,” but based on deeper connections and commonalities. If and when attraction enters the equation, we often take things too personally, judge too rashly, and too often fail to see the bigger picture beyond our desires.

Worse, we’re used to hearing all types of no-doubt exaggerated, one-sided “context” that distorts our perceptions of social interactions in general.

Before coming to the States, I envisioned my life as an international student to be exciting, thrilling at times, and adventurous. Sure, there are days when I’m making all sorts of friends and trying my best to remember everyone’s names, but there are also days when I feel so discouraged and overwhelmed by all the social interactions that I’ll go through my entire day without saying a single word. Ultimately, though, I was able to get through the rough times when I learned that simply doing what you love is what brings loving people around you.

Test Prep: To SAT or Not to SAT?

The college experience we all hear about is more than the sum of the college experiences we hear all about. The clarity of the picture in mind often determines whether something is a defining brushstroke vs. a nigh-ruinous splatter.