Throughout your degree, you’ll have interactions with hundreds of people both on and off campus. Some of these people become lifelong pals and others are mere acquaintances you’ll awkwardly smile at as you make the walk of shame through res.

The types of people you meet and the friends you make differ from year to year. In first year, everyone is so excited about the start of their new journey and by third year, everybody is super jaded and hanging for that final class.

The Very First Friend Vs The Acquaintance In Class

Finding that first friend during O-Week is a little bit like a first date: you try not to come on too strong but you also want them to know you’re down to binge-watch Stranger Things at their beck and call. Once your new bro or hoemance has reached peak brunching level, this friend is now stuck with you for life.

By third year, you’re not in the market for a new bestie, but you could do with a friend in class. I’m not sure if it’s the same for anybody else, but I didn’t talk to the people in my classes until third year. My theory is because you’re the last ones standing, you develop a sense of camaraderie. You’ll probably never see them after the semester ends, but it was good while it lasted.

The Responsible Friend Vs The Person Who’s Always Lit

Whether you live on campus or not, the responsible friend, or “mum”, is an essential first year pal to make. Need some bandaids? Go ask mum. Need someone to take you home after a messy night out? You can count on mum to set you up with a bottle of water, a bucket and bulk berocca by your bed for the morning.

Now, remember that mum you were friends with in first year? Well she no longer exists. She probably got sick of looking after everyone and got some more mature friends. Now it’s every man for themselves. In third year, you’ll make friends with that loose cannon who somehow has the money and commitment to go to every uni night and not return home until the wee hours of Sunday morning. They’re the dependable party pal we all need.

The Note Taker Vs “What Do We Need To Study For This Exam?” 

We all rock up to the first week of class with a notepad/laptop in hand, preparing to write down notes for every lecture. However, as the semester goes on most of us either completely tune out or stop going to lectures altogether. This is when you meet The Note Taker, a god send. They’re organised, they attend almost every lecture and you can bet your final dollar that if you need them, they’ll happily send you a copy of their perfectly scribed notes just in time for exam period. You’ll want to keep this friend around!

By the time third year rolls around, there’s absolutely no enthusiasm from anybody in class. The Note Taker probably transferred to another uni to get away from note scabs. While they’re nowhere to be seen, there’s always that one person who is even more jaded and sarcastic than Chandler from Friends. They won’t know what day assignments are due, they’ve probably not bought the textbook and their catchphrase is “Ps get degrees”. You relate to them on a deep level.

Molly loves playing and watching all sports and appreciates good cheese and fine wines. She has the potential to end up as that crazy cat lady from the Simpsons and is a final year journalism student who would love to end up working in the entertainment industry.

(Lead image: How I Met Your Mother/CBS)