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How mates are made at uni with Flex Mami

For a lot of us, the idea of going to university and not knowing anyone can be incredibly daunting.

For a lot of us, the idea of going to university and not knowing anyone can be incredibly daunting. However, when you consider that half of University of Tasmania's students have relocated, or are studying online, from interstate and another 12 per cent have relocated from overseas, there’s a lot of students in the same boat as you.

Whether you’re going to uni several times a week or living on campus, many of us can feel awkward or slightly uncomfortable putting ourselves out there to a slew of new people. 

Recently, influencer, author and all-round legend, Flex Mami, came to campus and helped style some of our student accommodation rooms. We sat down with Flex to ask for some of her top tips for breaking the ice and making friends that will hopefully last a lifetime.

Be shameless

Everyone wants someone to take the first step and engage with them, but no-one wants to be the one to do it.

Even though it’s intimidating, be the one to approach others. Turn to the person next to you in the downtime of your lecture, tutorial or field trip and ask them how they’re finding the course so far. Or ask a classmate about their upcoming plans for the weekend.

The first one to make this leap makes the most friends, so even though you may be nervous about sparking a conversation out of the blue with a stranger, this approach will benefit you in the long run.

Join a club or a sporting team

The Tasmanian University Student Association (TUSA) believes that clubs and societies are the lifeblood of a great uni experience, and with more than 130 on offer, you’re sure to find the one for you!

If you’ve moved from interstate, there’s plenty of activities on offer to help you make the most of Tasmania’s natural playground, be it bushwalking, mountaineering, white water rafting and even sailing. Or perhaps you have a passion for the creative arts and are looking to express yourself through urban dance or theatre.

While TUSA offers students a range of special interest sports, we also offer more general sports for those looking to flex their competitive edge.

No matter your tastes and preferences, you’re sure to find a club that best suits you that will help you connect with similar-minded people. Who knows, you could even be bold and create your very own society!

Fake it til you make it (sort of)

Many people think that you’re ‘stuck’ being the same person in uni that you were in high school. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

This doesn’t mean you need to lie to people and completely reinvent yourself. You can fake it, just a little bit, so you can find common ground with others and establish a rapport. This can be as simple as listening to bands that are popular with your age group, or learning a new skill like skateboarding.

From picking up new hobbies to exploring new interests and discovering different music genres, there’s so many ways you can become the best version of yourself.

Having fun organically

When you join the University of Tasmania, you become a valued member of our unique community brimming with culture. 

Lectures and tutorials are a great environment for meeting new people. But if you want these strangers to become your friends, you need to get to know them outside of the context of a classroom.

Whether you join us online or on-campus, you'll become a member of one of four distinctive, island-inspired communities – Devils, Tigers, Eagles and Dragons – based on your birth month.  

These communities are a gateway to vibrant,  fun experiences that extend far beyond your degree. A vibrant social calendar takes the guesswork out of creating opportunities to make new friends, build networks, work on meaningful projects, and learn new skills.

Beyond that, actions as simple as grabbing lunch together between classes, having some post-lecture drinks, or inviting them to kick back in your dorm if you're both living in student accommodation.

Trivia and game nights are also a fantastic way to get to know your peers on another level. If you’re looking for some refreshing banter, ReFlex is packed with thought-provoking queries like “what’s the best thing about being you?” and “after death, would you re-live your life or start as someone else?”.

Say ‘yes’

To really get the most out of your time at uni, you should accept anything that comes your way. Attend study groups, after-class drinks, social events and movies. Volunteer and take on a student job or a leadership role. Dine on local foods and immerse yourself in the arts.

By pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and saying ‘yes’ all the time, you’re exposing yourself to a wide range of people from different backgrounds and walks of life.

This means that by the end of your time at uni, you’re going to have heaps of options for who you want to hang out with. Some people you probably won’t see again after graduation, but if you’re lucky, you’re sure to have made some friends who will be by your side for years to come.

After all, university is where mates are made.


There’s more to uni than studying. Learn how you can connect with new people through events, sports, volunteering opportunities, and more here