Helllllo, freshmen.

I hope you're enjoying your first days in the promised land.

As I'm sure you already know, the University of Dayton is a fine place to spend four - or five - years turning yourself into an educated and refined young adult. The community blooms like the first flowers on the lawn in spring, and you are our fresh, new seedlings.

However, you might run into a few rabbits in the garden.

Remember all those cliques that paraded around in high school? The smart but socially awkward students on the debate team, the cookie cutter bimbos who did their makeup between classes, the hulking jocks who taunted those who puberty had yet to grace with a mustache ... Let's just say you can take the kid out of the high school, but sometimes you can't take the high school out of the kid.

Now obviously, I can't attest to the nature of the entire student body. But if you have friends who are grade school chums, you know what I'm talking about.

As first years, they recreate the circles they're used to running in: similar friends, similar backgrounds, similar everything. Nothing makes you feel more shut out than trying to bond with your new floor mates who can't stop raving about everyone in common they know from St. Louis/Chicago/Cleveland. Trust me, I've been there, but there's a lot more going on around here.

The way I see it, you have two options: Try to worm your way into a tight knit circle with a 50/50 chance of success, or love the ones who accept you, and move on.

One of the greatest things about college is being surrounded by thousands of people your age, creating a spectrum of interests and activities as wide as the universe. You've heard it before, but I can't stress it enough: Be open to making friends.

It's OK to have a handful of disparate groups to paddle between; there is no set rule that says you must have just one. Introduce, and be introduced. Network your face off. Join an activity you find interesting, and don't hesitate just because you can't find a friend to go with you to the first meeting.

Give floating around a try. Nobody looks back at college and wishes that they had met less people, been less involved. Make the most of your experience here, and really figure out what this "community" thing is all about.

Just don't munch the flowers.