How to Make New Friends

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by Quinn Bradlee
Friday, September 11, 2009

Starting a new school year can be especially difficult when you don't know many of your classmates. I have discovered that one of the best ways to make new friends is to let it happen naturally.

Over the school year you get to know the kids in your classes. sometimes in the hall ways you might over hear a conversation and during that conversation they might be talking about something that you are familiar with. Don't barge into the conversation. Wait until they're done talking and then approach one of them. You can start by saying something like, "I overheard you talk about X, and I also know a lot about that or I also do that for a hobby." During high school, it can feel like everybody already has their own little group. At my school, everybody was part of a different posse - the smart kids, the cool kids, the goths, etc.

Kids can be really really mean to each other. I have never understood the point of being mean to others. Bullies will tease you just to make themselves feel better and kick you when they are down. How to respond is tricky. If you tell a teacher or parent then you risk becoming an even bigger target, not to mention labeled as a tattletale. On the other hand, something it is not right for bullies to go around hurting others. Something has to be done.

I think the best way to make friends is really just to be yourself. People are attracted to confidence. In fact, if you have confidence you can do just about anything you want to. The only way to get confidence is by trying and failing and learning from your mistakes. Mistakes are our best teachers in life. I have said this before and I will never stop saying it.