Hola, everyone! I am Christine, originally from Mexico, and I started my Master’s in September 2009 (man, it sounds like it was ages ago!). I am a very social person, so I knew it was very important for me to have a strong network of friends from the very beginning. That’s why I attended the UBC grad orientation day and activities. I talked to everyone I could, and wrote everyone’s email address down. By the end of the week, each of us had 30 new potential friends! Funny how it goes, but most of those “strangers” are still among my closest friends, three years later!

If you would prefer to join other groups that are already established or have an interest in common, check the Alma Mater Society Clubs the first week of September. That directory gives you more than 350 activity groups to join–theatre, yoga, martial arts, dancing, photography, journalism, rock-climbing… they’ve got it all! Or join organized sport teams at the UBC Recreation Centre.

And well, if you want to diversify the kind of people you meet and the discussions you have, I would strongly recommend taking courses in other departments or faculties. You’ll be surprised by the unbelievably interesting courses offered all across UBC!

One last tip–and this one can actually go on your resume and make you look good–volunteer! Talk to profs whose research sounds interesting and offer to give a hand. Join student groups, organizing committees, search committees… Put yourself out there. You will learn more than you can imagine, and others will benefit from your talents. And, who knows, you might have a job in line by the time you finish your degree!