For example, instead of looking at the floor and murmuring your name, look around the room at classmates and say your name in an assertive voice. It’s also important to make eye contact while you speak. This will make you appear more confident and self-assured, even if you don’t feel it!
For example, you might say, “Hi, I’m Raj and I taught scuba diving over the summer. " You could then tell a funny story from teaching the class if you have enough time. You could also tell your class where you’re from and something interesting about the place. For example, if you’re from Roswell, New Mexico, say you’re from the UFO capital of the world!
You could say, “I’ve always loved to write and I’m interested in current events, so I’m a journalism major. " If you don’t know what you’re going to major in yet, don’t worry! You can tell the class that you’re undecided or just mention a few courses you’re taking this term.
For example, you could say, “I love to rock climb and I’ve heard there are some good spots nearby. If anyone wants to partner up and go climbing, let me know after class!”
If it helps, ask a friend or family member to watch you speak. They can give you useful feedback or offer encouragement. Try to limit your introductions to under 1 minute long. You probably won’t get a lot of time to talk when you introduce yourself in classes, so this helps ensure you can fit in everything you want to say.
It might be tempting to rush through the introductory post and reply with vague basics, but remember that taking the time to make thoughtful posts will make you feel more invested in the course.
You might say, “I’m Alex and I took a few years off of school to start my own photography business. Unfortunately, I’m a great photographer, but not such a great business person. I’m hoping to learn some financial tips from this course for running my own business. "
If you don’t feel comfortable uploading a picture of yourself, you should be able to select an image or avatar that represents your interests. You might need to upload a video introduction too. If so, write a brief introduction as though you were going to give it in person. Practice before filming and uploading the video.
For example, you might reply to a classmate’s introduction by saying, “Hi, Zara, it’s great to meet you. I’m also a math major so maybe we’ll be in other classes together!”
For example, if you’re into sports, you could look for an intramural soccer team or dodgeball team to join. Other ways you can get involved and meet others on campus include getting an on-campus job, doing research with a professor, or finding an internship.
It’s fine if not everyone you say hi to turns into a friend or even an acquaintance, but putting yourself out there helps people get to know you as well and lets them know you might be open to talking or hanging out.
You could even try to form a study group for a class or find a group of people who like to do the same activities to hang out with multiple new people.
Make eye contact and smile so you appear self-assured, even if you feel a little nervous! A lot of interviewers will start things off by asking you to tell them about yourself. Keep things conversational while you let them know a few key facts about where you’re from, your educational background, or jobs that you’ve had. Remember to thank the interviewer for their time before leaving.
