High school can be a challenging time, especially when it comes to making friends and finding your people. It can be difficult trying to learn all the social cliques at school and trying to find a group that you fit into. Sometimes it can seem like the hardest thing on earth but it can be broken down into steps and become fairly simple.
Having friends in classes helps us in many ways. For example, if someone struggles with anxiety, it can be helpful to see a familiar face, which will make the learning experience more enjoyable. It can help students engage in work and participate. They can also alleviate that feeling of being lonely when sitting alone in class. I know that making friends in classes can be hard, especially if you’re more introverted. But, if you go step by step it makes it easier to put yourself out there.
One of the first steps is identifying your friendship goals. For example, you might prefer having a large group of friends, or a few close friends to hang out with. Maybe you’re not as extroverted, so you want friends who are extroverted so they can help you put yourself out there. Either way, this is an important key factor; you don’t want to have that feeling of being unfulfilled because maybe the people just aren’t the right match for you.
Additionally, don’t be afraid to reach out to people. Don’t be so worried that you are bothering someone. So many more people are open to making friends than you might think. I know it can be scary, but most of the time, people are super nice. There are so many ways that you can reach out to people and start conversations with them. It can be as easy as just giving someone a simple compliment. Even if it doesn’t spark a conversation right away, it’s still a nice thing to do, and you could make their day. They’ll acknowledge that you’re a nice person and you could try and become their friend over time. Another one is going up and talking to someone alone and could be feeling a little lost. You’re probably both in the same boat and that’s a super good opportunity to go and talk to them. Look for people with similar interests and passions. This can make it much easier to have conversations since you can ask questions about said interests.
Additionally, you need to make yourself look approachable. Try not to put up barriers that may give someone the wrong vibe. For example wearing headphones in class could maybe indicate that you don’t want to talk to anyone and would rather be left alone. Make sure that you’re not walking around everywhere with your head down; look up and around at the people and your surroundings. Put yourself out there, and don’t be afraid to be yourself. Don’t make up some version of yourself just to make friends. Real friends that matter and care about you will love you just the way you are.
Lastly, putting yourself out there is key to making new friends. If you just sit at home alone, sit in class with your headphones on the whole period, and do everything to isolate yourself, then you will stay isolated. Put in the effort to become an amazing friend and have fun. Be confident in yourself and take a deep breath. Avoid shutting yourself out, say yes to those invitations to events and hangouts. You could be saying no to a good time and not even realize it.
