Wilhemina Ampomah-Sraha.jpg
Have you ever moved into a new environment — say, a different city or school — excitedly expecting to branch out and meet more people who enjoy the things you do, kind of like back home, only to not be able to find them anywhere? As if certain communities only exist online?
Going from a place where your favorite artists, shows or fashion trends are the norm to a place where no one seems to have even heard of them is an odd feeling. On the internet, it’s easy to find those who just get it with minimal scrolling. Out in the real world, the search for those like us can make you an outsider rather than part of a collective.
I remember living this when I began my first semester at NC State. As a girl who loves archival fashion and underground hip-hop, being from the culturally enriched city of Charlotte meant that I didn’t need to go far to find the connections I was looking for.
That is, up until I moved to Raleigh. There’s no doubt that NC State’s not exactly the most diverse university out there, but the school is no monolith.
Community exists everywhere — you just have to know where to look.
This means that no, you can’t just sit around recluse today and expect your perfectly tailored posse to come up to you. Even the kids who seemed to have started the semester off with a full friend group put themselves out there; they knew where to look.
So it begs the question, where are we supposed to look? And how does one effectively branch out
The first and best place to start is by, you guessed it, being yourself. If you wear your personality like a cape and are attuned to what truly excites and fulfills you, meeting people in an everyday setting will be a breeze. You’ll make new friends and acquaintances or even gain new knowledge from passersby.
There will be some people who you’ll meet but not exactly be aligned with, and that’s okay. It takes time, but the right connections will come naturally.
One of my favorite ways to express myself is through my clothing. I like to refer to it as virtue signaling through outfits. The philosophy is that certain subcultures have their own aesthetics; if a skater could spot another just through the style of their baggy clothing, then maybe a fashion aficionado could notice my 1199 bracelet.
Moreover, another great way to put yourself out there is by getting involved. Social media exists as a tool to inform us on what’s going on locally. We could only be so thankful for sites such as Instagram or Reddit that use internet communities to spread information and organize events out in the real world.
The most important part of getting involved is actually showing up — not just watching on the sidelines. Even the smallest things like house shows or pop-ups have the ability to keep you in close proximity to like-minded people.
My personal connection to getting involved in Raleigh is the monthly vintage markets on campus. After spending hours sifting through over 20 vendors, I always make sure to follow my favorite vendors in hopes of seeing them again anywhere around the state. Through community, they typically know each other and post each other’s events in support. Because of this, I’ve found beautiful new stores to shop at that I probably could have never found on my own.
You never know who you’ll meet or what you’ll see just from being present. Sometimes, it takes a single experience to feel like you’ve found your people.
There’s no exact route to take when it comes to finding community. Sometimes, all you need to do is follow your passions and wait for the proper opportunities to present themselves. There are countless ways to indulge in all the things you like — and NC State actually encourages it. The Taylor Swift: Through the Eras course previously offered is one example of how students are supported in indulging in their favorite things.
This just goes to show that community exists everywhere for those willing to find it.