Going to your first UH Hilo club meeting with someone new

You have found a student club that sounds interesting. You have even saved the meeting information. Then the day arrives, and walking into a room where people may already know each other feels harder than you expected.

You can make the entrance smaller. Arrange to meet one other interested student beforehand, find the room together, and introduce yourselves to the organizer.

That companion does not need to be a close friend. You already have one thing in common: you both want to try the activity.

Confirm the meeting before inviting anyone#

UH Hilo maintains information about its Registered Independent Student Organizations. Use the current university resources to identify a group, then ask its contact whether the next meeting welcomes newcomers and whether registration is needed.

Do not assume a club welcomes outside guests or that an old meeting time still applies. If an activity has a capacity limit, each attendee should complete the organizer’s registration process. A YKnot request does not reserve a place at somebody else’s event.

Your invitation is for company on the way to an existing activity. Keep the club’s name and event details accurate, and make clear that you are attending rather than organizing it.

Make the first five minutes easier#

Pick a visible meeting point near the venue and arrive with enough time to find the room. Exchange a short description so you can recognize each other. Once inside, introduce yourselves separately as well as together; you both deserve the chance to meet other members.

Here is a sample you can adapt once the event is confirmed:

Trying a student club meeting on Wednesday. Looking for one other eligible student who would like to meet nearby ten minutes early and walk in together. I’ll share the confirmed event details and registration instructions. We can each decide how long to stay.

Add the date, exact meeting point, and any cost. Avoid promising that a first visit will be free unless the organizer confirms it.

Decide on the next visit afterward#

You may both enjoy the club, or one of you may decide it is not a fit. Either outcome is useful. Ask what the other person thought without treating another meeting as an obligation.

Found an activity you would like to try? Post a meet-before-you-go line on YKnot. Keep it small, follow the organizer’s requirements, and give another student a way to arrive with company.

Illustrative cover photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash.