askastudent recommends the book that may destroy your soul

How can I get a girl friend? As matter of fact how can I make friends? I am so lonley.

wow, that’s a big question. and while i’m not really the most incredibly qualified person to answer it, i’ll try to do my best and give you some advice in an honest and practical way.
firstly, u of t is a big campus. huge even, predominately full of disenfranchised commuters and international students. especially in the lower years, you’re in giant classes with strangers, too intimidated to change your seat after the first week. everyone seems like they’ve already made friends (clingers from frosh week) and you’re left out. this is not a university experience.
making friends at university comes down to coming out of one’s shell a little bit. as cliche as this may sound, often joining an extracurricular activity like a student union, newspaper, club or sports team might lead you meet people with similar interests. and with a variety ranging from the ayn rand society to the chinese businessman’s association, chances are, if you’re interested in anything, someone else is too.
tutorials, small seminars and hanging out at places like the JCR are great ways to meet people. same with social networking web sites like live journal and the face book. random people message me all the time because i like the replacements. it doesn’t hurt to follow up on people who’s interests match your own. i’ve made a few friends that way and they’re great.
it may feel strange the first few times you say hi to someone you’ve only met a few times before, or meet up with a veritable stranger for coffee, but that’s what the university experience is all about. if people seem like they’re trying to befriend you too, let them. the university of toronto is unfriendly enough as it is, without other people adding to it all.
as for the other part, a girlfriend, well that gets a little more complicated. i could tell you to read neil strauss’ “the game” and learn seduction techniques to help you score three ways, but that’s not really going to help you in the long run. basically the best thing to keep in mind is the adage: “be the best you”. be yourself, but be the best yourself you can be. girls (i think) like guys who are considerate, interesting and dress well. change your socks on a regular basis, don’t be afraid to share your hobbies and views on life, and uh, don’t be shy. relationships come to people when they’re ready. focus on yourself, get interested in the things you like to do and when you’re ready, the right one will come along.
you only get to do university once. consider it your chance to turn into somebody new – a better you! (i apologize for the cheesy rhyming.)
cheers, askastudent
p.s. if it makes you feel any better, a friend of my dad’s once confessed that he had to literally flyer U of T in the 70’s, searching for friends. you could always try that too…