How Eye Contact Could Change Your College Experience

By Noah Etoka

Sometimes it feels like the friendliness at this school flows as much as the LA river. Maybe it was strong and powerful in the past. But over time, it’s slowed to a trickle. Then the walls went up, and now at times, the friendliness is barely there. In some areas, it’s more of a creek than a river, to be honest. 

As someone who comes from a smaller city (with a bigger river), there are a few things other than the main waterway that I couldn’t help but notice when I first arrived in Los Angeles. There was specifically one behavior that everyone here had seemed to adopt which made friendliness seem near impossible. Consider it my biggest culture shock.

In public, there was little to no eye contact in passing.

The same trend persists on the USC campus. Clearly, there’s reasons for safety, and you can’t go around staring at every person on the street. But where I’m from, it’s customary to greet, or at least acknowledge, each person you come by. In Idaho, and I’ve heard this is true for other regions of the United States (like the Midwest and South), people are very friendly. Sometimes overly friendly, to the point where a lack of eye contact is considered rude. Walking down the street means saying hello to just about everyone who passes by. 

In hindsight, interacting with every stranger you see might not be the smartest activity to engage in. There are some behaviors that are basic etiquette in a big city. You don’t want to draw attention to yourself- that can make you a target of solicitation, physical confrontation, or worse. But there is a sort of insular nature to USC’s campus, at least in regards to the massive city around it. The university is its own little community, which makes it partially exempt from the rules governing the city it resides in. 

I am still navigating the culture shock that is moving to a new city. For some reason I am considered very approachable, which sometimes elicits unwanted attention. It’s instinct for me to smile at everybody on the street, even if it goes against the norm. But oftentimes I feel myself disconnected from my peers because of this lack of contact. I would go so far as to say that sometimes the atmosphere feels hostile. *But there has to be a happy medium.*

To break that atmosphere, there needs to be a change in how we view friendliness amongst students at USC. First, it’s important to note that acknowledging my peers has made a difference in my ability to connect with them on campus.

No matter what you call it–Midwestern charm, Southern hospitality, etc– there is an aspect of smaller city living that can translate to the students at USC. 

A simple smile or wave can mean a lot to a person. Recognizing that they’re there and you see them can make a massive difference in someone’s life. Sometimes it’ll happen at the Trader Joe’s in the Village. You’ll be walking down a crowded aisle and spot a familiar face. There’s no time for conversation, which is okay. It could be at an event held by the school, a workshop from one of the many centers on campus, or just in passing down Trousdale Parkway. Wherever it is, don’t be afraid to take a second to let someone know you see them.

There are a lot of people you will meet at school that you might not yet consider friends, but are at a higher rank than acquaintances. These tend to be the people you see in passing the most. This is a good place to start when it comes to interacting with someone outside your circle. Who knows- maybe it’ll open the floodgates and start a stream of new friendships.

It can be awkward. Sometimes a person won’t return the favor. They didn’t see you, it happened too fast, or they just can’t remember your name. That’s the risk of going out on a limb to be kind. And although not everyone might appreciate it, with those that do, it can make all the difference when it comes to building friendships and networking with others.

TL;DR: Say hello to those you recognize on campus, no matter how close you are. You just might make a new friend.

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