Meeting new people takes courage, but it is worth it
COMMENTARY
Laura McFarland

If you could create a national holiday, what would it be?

You’d have to think carefully because a lot of them are already taken.

Somebody out there has already thought of “Lost Sock Memorial Day,” “Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Night,” “Tell a Story Day,” “Sorry Charlie Day” and, my favorite, “Make up Your Own Holiday Day.”

If I could create a national holiday, I would choose “Talk to a Stranger in an Elevator Day.”

I’ve always found it amusing to get on an elevator with a bunch of strangers and see people look at the ceiling and the doors or even read the capacity limit sign, just as long as they don’t end up staring at each other.

Strange as this all may sound, there is a point. What I notice every time I get on an elevator with a stranger, I have also noticed in the world around me. People are afraid of each other.

We join a few organizations and make some acquaintances in class, but most of the time, people seem really unwilling to just jump in there and meet new people. We stay with the same basic group of friends for four years, and for four years, they remain our central source of entertainment.

Well, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this. I hope everyone can say before they die that they have had at least one true friend in life. But in addition to those best friends, it can also be nice to have some people you can hang out with sometimes.

In a lot of instances, meeting new people can be hard. But there are already ready-made situations to meet new people that every one can take advantage of.

Smokers — The next time you step outside for a smoke and see someone else getting
their fix as well, strike up a conversation along with a match. You already know you have one thing in common.

People waiting in line — Most of the time you aren’t going anywhere because that one person at the front of the line has to find exact change or ask just one more question of the cashier. So try talking to one of the people in line with you. If nothing else, it will help pass the time.

Diners —It’s time for lunch and none of your friends are around. So why don’t you try sitting with someone new? If the conversation lags, you have a guaranteed topic in complaining about the university’s food and the outrageous fees they charge.

People riding in elevators — OK, so you’re stuck in a tiny box with a stranger and that can be intimidating. But a little chitchat isn’t going to hurt you. You’re only going to be able to read that “1,000 lb. capacity” sign so many times before it gets old.

It may be scary at first, even a little uncomfortable, but meeting new people eventually gets easier.

So keep in mind that there are, literally, billions of people out there, and some of them could probably become your really good friends if you’re willing to take the first step and say, “Hi.”

Laura McFarland is a senior English and news-editorial journalism major from Houston.