The consequence of conserving words

Greetings, I'm Holly, in case you haven't read that already. I know this falls more under philosophy and life issues and such than what we're really aiming at in this class, but, since this post isn't one of our required ones, I think I'll indulge in my natural habit of musing. Recently, some conversations I've had have caused me to reflect on the atmosphere of our beloved Cambridge campus. Why is it that so many of us are isolated? Everyone minds their own business, that is, unless they know some other people. I wonder, is this because some people know each other from high school? Or perhaps through other means? Perhaps it is, in part, because there are so many people who are unsure about coming to college, that they're self conscious. Perhaps we all are. I know that I am, even if I do try my best to hide it. But here's what I have found: the more I worry about it, the more self-conscious I fell. And the more nervous I feel, the less likely I am to crack through my shell and truly make friends. Everyone seems to mind their own business, as a friend of mine said. So he retreats and stays within his shell as well. The friend I speak of is Hudson, an international student from Africa who came here to get the education he needs to make his home a better place. He pays twice as much, is ineligible for financial aid, and, on top of that, could be sent home at any time due to the fickleness of our government and the nature of such things. But that's beside the point. I've been thinking upon something he said: "In Africa, everyone minds every one's business." Not as in gossip, but like we used to be. That sense of community that used to be present in our nation long before I arrived upon this planet. And, understandably, he's lonely. Because he's different, we're intimidated by him. It's not racism, but that always present fear of the strange that rests in each person towards those they don't know, be it toward someone who's obviously different in a visible way or simply someone who melts into the background that you simply feel unsure about speaking with. I am, I admit, rather afraid of others. I push past it, but it's there all the same. In college, it's as if we're all afraid of each other. As if, when we do something wrong, everyone will turn their backs on us. Like every one's a potential threat. Is this the case? Are we afraid of something as insignificant as the opinion of others? I'm not sure how many others feel this way. It might just be a select few who feel out of place. I don't know. But I'm not going to worry about it again, if I can help it. So come out and talk to the person sitting next to you in class, smile and sit with strangers in the lunch area, take a chance and talk to someone you don't know for a change. This isn't high school, the dynamics aren't the same. In college, we have a chance to leave all of that social fear behind and start anew, even if some of the people are the same. Let them be self conscious and wary if they want. We're not responsible for the attitudes of others, but for our own and our own actions. So act! Who knows? You might make a friend. You might learn something. You might be surprised at how friendly everyone is. And, at the very least, you make this thing called college a little less stressful and isolating for someone like Hudson or Holly. I think that's worth doing. Any thoughts?