Friendship and connection are precious, especially when settling into college life. With good friends, even the most challenging things can feel possible.

My first year of college was socially challenging: asking people to hang out, making friends, and introducing myself in different spaces. However, by my sophomore year, I had more friends than I could count with both hands.

How did I do it? Instead of being a guest, I became the host. Below are my ideas for filling your evenings with friends and community, along with tips for hosting, what to expect, and what you might need to buy.

Hosting Logistics

Planning prevents mishaps and ensures everyone has a good time. Depending on the event, you may need to prepare food, decorate, and more.

Here is a list of things to prepare:

• Food: Grocery shopping, thawing ingredients, prepping, cooking, and plating.
• Guests: Ask about dietary restrictions, know the parking options, and plan food based on your guest count.
• Space: Buy decorations, get disposable plates, and designate a drop-off spot for guests' belongings.
• Cleaning: Tidy the living room, kitchen, bathroom, and other guest spaces.

A helpful tip: set the temperature cooler than usual. A room full of people heats up quickly, so use the AC or fans. Early arrivals often want to help, so don’t be afraid to delegate!

Fun Event Ideas

For my birthday, I wanted a unique activity to help my friends get along. A central activity gives guests something to look forward to and a reason to come.

Here are some events I’ve hosted (or plan to host):

• Wig-Snatching Party: Buy some wigs (or have everyone bring their own wig: BYOW) and create a tournament bracket. The name says it all: whoever snatches a wig first wins!
• Arts & Crafts Night: Gather friends for a calm, quiet night of arts, crafts, or hobbies. It's a perfect creative outlet to unwind and stay motivated together.
• Bring a Stranger: Ask friends to bring someone no one else knows to the party. It's a great way to meet new people and expand your circle.
• Murder Mystery Party: Buy a murder mystery party kit and solve a fictional crime together. It’s perfect for team building.
• Mafia Party: Host a real-life “Mafia” or “Among Us” party. It requires planning, but you can use smart devices for creative lighting and sound effects or simply download an app and play digitally together in the same space.

Additional Tips

• Have a dress code: People love a reason to dress up, and it makes for great photos!
• Create a photo booth: A designated photo area makes for fun keepsakes. You can use a Polaroid camera (my preference) for an instant physical memento.
• Start a shared playlist: A shared Spotify playlist lets everyone be the DJ.
• Use disposable plates: Disposable cups, plates, and utensils make cleanup easier.

The Joy of Hosting

Hosting is work, but it creates rewarding memories—and isn't college all about making memories?

Don’t just wait to be invited to things; host them yourself. You’ll be surprised how many new friends you’ll make and how much closer you’ll become to your current ones.

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