I really wasn’t that nervous for my first day of high school. In my eyes, that whole idea of being “the new kid” was thrown out the window, because at that point every single person in the freshman class was considered new.

I thought coming into college was going to be different.

During the application process for MSU, students are asked how they would make an effort to work with and befriend other cultures.

Of course most people would give a positive response. Some students know that they have no intention of stepping out of their comfort zone, but wouldn’t want to ruin their chances of getting accepted into a Big Ten university.

I never knew there would be cliques at a university. Most of the cliques formed are former “sub-cliques” passed on from high school. Those sub cliques then join the main cliques here and fall into larger categories such as race, sports teams or clubs.

An issue that bothers me pertains to the population at parties. It has come to the point that once you find out the address of a party, you have an idea of what the predominant race or social group of whoever attends it will consist of.

I myself am guilty of being skeptical when it comes to going to certain gatherings. Sometimes I feel as though if I don’t have similar interests with others at the party, then I probably won’t enjoy myself.

Sometimes when I do attend, I’m pleasantly surprised to find out that everyone who is there just wants to have a good time, and it can be easy to strike up a conversation with someone you might not have thought to before.

Living situations are also unintentionally segregated in some instances.

In cooperative houses, most of the residents tend to be artistic and serene. From my experience talking to housemates, it seemed as though everyone knew each other from past relationships or mutual friends.

When I talked to a few of the house guests who recently moved into cooperative houses, they said they were recommended from a friend who was already currently living in that house. Other people living in the house were also mutual friends, or just people that were suggested to them as compatible roommates.

When it comes to off campus, the majority of my friends who are black live in an apartment complex at Chandler Crossings. The Village, The Clubs or The Landings always seem to be a go to spot to live. For the majority of my white friends, they either get an apartment at Cedar Village or some house on Abbot Road.

Now, this is not the campus’ fault. I just feel as though students choose to or even unknowingly segregate themselves.

Due to familiarity and comfortability this is justified. Some students may carry what they learn from high school to college. Who you sit next to at the lunch table develops into who you tailgate with.

I’m not saying students completely shut out people who aren’t considered their conventional friends, but they do to a certain length. Greetings on the street should be extended to other encounters such recreational events and organizational affairs.

Unless you plan on going to graduate school, you only have four years to get to know people you may have never had the chance to interact with back home. This should be a time to extend a hand to someone you might not have before, and who knows — the person you sit next to in class every day could turn into a bridesmaid or groomsman in your future wedding.

Kayman Whaley is an intern at The State News. Reach her at kwhaley@statenews.com.