Zainab Lokhandwala Grade 10 A
We’ve all seen those teen movies where it’s someone’s first day at a new school. She walks into the classroom and the whole room goes silent. Everyone turns to look at her. She approaches the ‘cool’ group and ask to sit with them. The leader tells them to scram and the poor newbie ends up sitting all alone in one corner.
To help you avoid this nightmare scenario, we’ve rounded up some tips for making friends at school.
#TIP1- Think about what makes a good friend
The first step in making lasting friendships is knowing what to look out for in a friend. A good friend is someone who is there for you no matter what, doesn’t judge you, is kind and respectful, and is a good listener. These qualities are hard to judge when you first meet someone. But, there are some signs to look out for. For example, how do they treat other people? Do they talk about others behind their back? Do they put people down? If a potential new bud is making you or someone else cringe, they’re probably not going to be a great mate.
#TIP2- Be yourself
It sounds cheesy, but you got to be yourself. There’s not much point in trying to make friends while pretending to be someone you’re not. It’s unlikely that every person will dig you, but there’ll be plenty of people who appreciate you for your generosity and humbleness. And remember, if you don’t have many friends right now, it won’t be the case forever. You also don’t need to change yourself with the changing circumstances around you- always keep your inner instincts alive and never be ashamed of what you are.
#TIP3- Unplug from your devices and participate in the real world
To make new friends, it’s always important to keep your electronic devices aside and allocate some time for going to the park and attending some social events. Social media can seem like interaction (but it’s an addiction), but adding a virtual friend is not the same as a real friendship. Your new friends could be right in front of you, but if you’re looking at your phone all day, you won’t get a chance to find out.
#TIP4- Be open-minded. Don’t judge.
Sometimes you may have a preset notion of the kind of friend you want. Maybe someone who is understanding, listens, has the same hobbies, watches the same movies, has similar educational background, etc. And then when you meet the person and realize that he/she differs from your expectations, you then close yourself off. Don’t do this at all times. The most important part in making new friends to not judge the other person and always accept the person like the way he/she is.
Friends- it’s the friends we meet along the way that helps us appreciate the journey-
What are some of your tips for making new friends? Have you found any of the above tips helpful? Can you share some of your instances on the first day of school? Feel free to leave a comment in the comments below and don’t forget to share this page with all your friends!
Credits- https://personalexcellence.co/blog/new-friends/
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-New-Friends-at-School
https://au.reachout.com/articles/how-to-make-friends-at-school
