meeting new people

Tonight we had a mixer where the new UCLA “first years” got to meet us grizzled veterans. So we met at a fancy room in a restaurant run by the same Lawry’s who makes that seasoning salt, and we talked. It was a good time, re-uniting with friends, meeting new ones, talking about the program, what we’re up to, what people can expect.

And it makes me think with no small amount of wonder how many people I meet now, and how many friendships I form at a pretty rapid rate. There was a time period there – I’d say between 10th grade up until two years ago, where I wasn’t really interested in making any new friends. I had the friends I had had since high school, and I liked them just fine. I didn’t see how I had the time to make any more friends, let alone the interest and the energy. I think I lived my life by the classic Seinfeld line, “All the positions are fill at this time, I don’t anticipate hiring any time soon.”

And yet, moving away from all of those friends, and entering into an industry that is built upon “who you know,” I’ve now become pretty good at making friends, or at least at making small talk with people I just met.

People will often say that people never change, and to a large degree I agree with this sentiment – for better or worse. But I will say that in this case, because of a perspective shift on my part, I have changed. I enjoy meeting new people now, and starting off new relationships.

And I think that’s a good thing, because it’s pretty much a necessity now.