February is national “make a friend month” according to sophomore education major Gariel Pierce and freshman Jillian Smiley, who helped host a “speed friending” event in the Lumpkin Learning Commons Feb. 23. “Our goal was just bringing the Blackburn community together and letting people who are more shy or introverted meet new people, and also [so] social people who have tons of friends…get to meet more people,” Pierce said.
The setup of the event was fairly simple. Like a speed dating event, participants were given a number and a nametag. There were several rounds – each five minutes long – in which participants introduced themselves and held a short conversation about anything and everything. For those less apt at thinking on the spot, a sheet of paper was provided on each table with conversation starter suggestions ranging from, “What was the last funny video you saw?” to, “What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever been?”
People talked about what was on the sheet, but they also discussed their lives, the reasons they picked their majors and events that had shaped who they are. So while asking someone about his or her major might become boring or even tedious, asking why they have that major can tell you much about that person in a short amount of time. It was these sorts of discussions that helped form real connections between people and they abounded at speed friending.
With less than 20 people in attendance, the event was small, but Pierce said, “I think we succeeded.” She said she believed scheduling conflicts were the biggest reason the turnout wasn’t very large. Blackburn was also hosting a screening of “Concerned Student 1950” as part one of the three-part “Can We Talk About Race?” series that night. Pierce said she believes if there had been a bigger time gap between the events, that people could have eaten dinner and more might have come.
Still, those who did come enjoyed the event. Freshman communications major Ally Fowler said, “I enjoyed meeting new people … I got to meet a few people I hadn’t talked to before.” Freshman graphic design major Alyssa Rigel said the event was what she expected, “and more,” adding, “I have more common interests with people than I thought I did.”