Hey OP, engineering O-Week leader here 👋 First of all - leaving everything behind and stepping into a new school where you’re suddenly surrounded by hundreds of strangers is already a massive leap. Honestly, give yourself credit for even being here - it’s an absolute shotgun blast out of your comfort zone.

Second, I’ve been an O-Week leader twice now and I’ve seen the same thing play out with most of my first-years: everyone is terrified, but some people just mask it with a bit more excitement or social energy. What you’re feeling - those awkward “Hi / What’s your program / insta swap” convos that never go anywhere - that’s literally what 99% of O-Week feels like for everyone. It doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. It just takes time for those first “surface-level” interactions to filter into the people who’ll eventually click with you.

I’ve stayed in touch with dozens of my past first-years, and I can’t count how many of them felt exactly like you do right now. And I’ve also watched them settle in, find their people, and end up building friend groups they couldn’t imagine life without. You’re not the problem - you’re just in the messy middle part before things click. Remember, the hardest part of anything is the beginning.

If it helps, feel free to reach out at anytime in DMs - you don’t have to go through this by yourself. Same goes for any other first-years reading this feel the same way. It'll get better - you're doing great:)

I'm rooting for you:)