How to make new friends in high school
References
In this article: Meet new people Introduce yourself to new people Establish new friendships Related articles References
Making friends in high school isn't always easy, as it's a time-consuming process. However, if you want to find and make new friends, there are strategies you can adopt that will help you expand your circle of friends.
Part
1
Meet new people
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1
Join a club. If you want to make new friends, you'll have to start by finding new people to befriend.
Clubs are a great way, as they provide a structured environment in which you can interact and express yourself with people you already have something in common with.
Depending on your interests, you can join a professional group, a language group, a game group, a literary magazine, etc.
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2
Join an academic or sports team. Being part of a team gives you several opportunities to exchange and discuss with the same people. [1]
If you are unsure of your sporting abilities, then try joining a recreational league, as these types of clubs are more informal and less competitive.
If you have athletic ability, look for a sports team where that ability will be emphasized more. If you're a good runner, for example, it's best if you join a football, lacrosse, or cross-country team.
If your skills are more academic than physical, then join a debate team, such as the United Nations or similar.
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3
Take optional courses. Elective courses are another great opportunity to be able to collaborate with people with whom you share a particular interest.
Options such as journalism, the high school yearbook section, and theater offer the chance to meet new people as you collaborate to produce tangible results.
Several electives also require you to stay in school, which at first glance doesn't seem like too much of a choice, but staying in school after class with a group of people lets you get to know each other. them in a relaxed atmosphere, away from the daily monotony of school and to have a good camaraderie.
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4
Volunteer or find a job. Working and volunteering both add value to your Curriculum Vitae and to your social group.
Volunteering can be a great way to meet people from different backgrounds and of all ages. Look for local volunteer clubs on campus or try the different volunteer organizations in your area.
The job will give you the ability to chat with people frequently with minimal pressure, which can be very helpful if you have difficulty approaching people. Find a job where you will collaborate and chat with a lot of people and avoid jobs where you will always be isolated or alone.
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5
Attend a social event. It may seem obvious, but social events are designed to bring people together.
Party events, dance events, events held in urban centers and gatherings can all offer you the chance to meet new people in a more conducive social environment.
If you are shy, try to find another person or an acquaintance by your side. Looking relaxed and smiling can help you feel more comfortable and less alone.
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6
Be an approachable person. Being expressionless, preoccupied, or frustrated will keep people from approaching you. Also, if you want to make new friends, you need to be as approachable as possible.
Smile. Offering a friendly smile will make you more sociable, put people more at ease, and encourage them to chat with you more.
If you find it difficult to communicate easily with people who are strangers to you, you can consciously make the effort to be open and friendly rather than being closed in on yourself.
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7
Start with people you already know. Get closer to people you already know and try to get closer to them.
Look for opportunities to chat with people you know and learn more about them and what they like. If all goes well and you manage to gain their trust, inviting them to do something with you outside of school will help you develop a friendship.
Ask people you know to introduce you to other people. If you know someone who is in a different group or is involved in an activity you are interested in, ask them to invite you.
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Use social networks. Different dating groups exist online and you can be part of this new group of people depending on your interests.
However, it is important to note that these groups are only useful if they are oriented towards physical and real encounters.
Don't try to make friends using only Facebook or Instagram. That's not to say that people don't make friends through these social networks, but these kinds of relationships tend not to work until you meet physically. Also, some people are reluctant to have a stranger approach them online saying they would like them to be friends.
However, it is recommended to allow someone who would like to sympathize with you on a social network. If after you chat, you feel good around them, ask them to add you to their friends list or follow you on Tumblr, Twitter, Instagram, and more.
Part
2
Introduce yourself to new people
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1
Pick your time. Approaching someone at the wrong time can sabotage your chances before you even start chatting with them.
Don't try to start a conversation at the wrong time. For example, exchanges in the middle of an interrogation or when the person concerned is distracted by other things which seem to divert his attention.
Understand that some people don't like to talk in certain situations. There are some who don't like to chat when they're on the bus or when they're cleaning the cafe tables. If you notice that they are not inclined to strike up a conversation with you, then let it go. [2]
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2
Ask questions. The adage that people like to talk about themselves proves to be very true. Questions are also great icebreakers.
If you don't know where to start a discussion with someone, it is recommended that you start with questions like "what homework do you have?" or "Who teaches you biology?" » [3]
A great way to connect with someone is to ask them questions that relate to them. [4] Ask him questions about his favorite hobbies, his family, his pets, etc. If he tells you about something he did or achieved, ask him how and why he got there.
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3
Listen carefully. The crucial element in getting to know a person is to listen carefully to what they are saying.
Show the person you're talking to that you're giving them your full attention by squinting, nodding, and making small comments here and there to show you're following the flow of the conversation.
Since you're the one asking the other person questions, listen carefully to their answers to find out if they're more interested or passionate about the topic. If you find that the answer to a question isn't as explicit as you'd hoped, don't ask more about it, move on to another topic instead. Once you've found a topic that the person you're chatting with seems to be more interested or has more to say to you, then ask the questions and use a lot of imagination and attention to keep the conversation going.
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4
Watch his body language. People feel more comfortable when you observe their body language in subtle ways. Don't gesture with each move, just adopt similar postures in a subtle way. [5]
If she leans forward, do the same. If she sits with her legs crossed, cross yours as well.
If the person you're talking to is reluctant to talk or seems to be withdrawn (ie hands crossed, legs crossed while standing, or hands in pocket), don't do the same. Instead, understand this as a sign of inconvenience. Adopt open body language (lean forward if seated, arms beside palms, shoulders pointing back, legs slightly apart and feet in front of the other person if the other person is standing) and try to redirect the conversation to something that elicits a more positive response.
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5
Relax. If you're nervous, you get the other one nervous too, which is something most people don't like.
Don't worry. Practice calming the voice in your head so it doesn't say, "You were really weird earlier" or "They'll just laugh at you." Know that this is only the way of insecurity and it does not pay you anything in the end.
Breathe. When you are nervous, you tend to hold your breath or breathe rapidly, which increases the level of your nervousness. To calm yourself down, it is recommended that you take a deep breath before approaching the person you want to chat with and remember to stay calm throughout the conversation.
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6
Avoid talking too much. Talking a lot about yourself can be off-putting. [6]
Don't tell other people your whole life story. Not only will they not take enough time to listen to you, but people also tend to view those who talk too much about themselves as weak or self-centered.
When you've only just met someone, it's best if you don't talk about the details of yourself early on. Don't talk about details that could make the conversation awkward. It's things like your cousin in jail or your sister has a habit of eating paper towels.
Part
3
Establish new friendships
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1
Conduct structured activities. Since you're new to knowing someone, it's a good idea to start with structured activities that will enhance one-on-one conversation. [7]
When it comes to structured activities, good options are: going to the movies, watching a movie, playing a game, or attending a sporting event. This way you both have something to focus on and discuss and you don't have to make the whole conversation focus on you.
Once you feel comfortable, you can move on to structured, but more interactive activities like basketball, golf, snowboarding, ice skating or going to the museum.
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2
Be patient. Making friends takes a little time, so don't try to force or rush things, just be patient and persistent.
If you feel like someone doesn't want to be your friend or keeps making excuses, then don't insist, let them go. If you put pressure on him, you could become his enemy.
If you're trying to get to know someone and things don't go your way, then don't give up. You can't get along with everyone you meet and some people just don't like making good friends. If they don't want a friendship, don't take it so personal that it frustrates you. There could be a number of reasons for this without it even being directly related to you. [8]
If you seem to be ignored by everyone you meet, then reconsider how you introduced yourself. You may have made discourteous remarks or said something very inappropriate. It is recommended that you talk to a trusted family member about what you can do to be seen and appreciated differently.
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3
Be calm and courteous. Whether or not you're willing to spend time, don't react in an irritated way. [9]
If the person approves of the idea of spending time with you, going out, smiling, saying something positive, it may seem rushed or very creepy to the point where you might doubt their true intentions.
If she declines your invitation, don't panic, just say something like, "That's great, it was a pleasure talking to you" and you can walk away after that. Don't get angry or look frustrated, just take it lightly.
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4
Be positive. Don't misunderstand or say you'll never make friends. [10]
It's good enough that you notice something is wrong, especially when someone doesn't seem to be responding favorably to your advances. Obviously it hurts and can feel like a rejection, but don't dwell on it. Recognize this and seek to move forward.
Keep in mind that you won't be able to be friends with everyone and similarly you won't want to be friends with everyone either. This person could be a useless friend or someone very disreputable and you may have escaped this.
Advice
Be available by giving your time. Making friends is often a difficult and tedious process. You won't be able to be friends with everyone you meet, and not everyone deserves to be chased as a friend. Don't be discouraged if you don't instantly become best friends, because a real friendship takes time.
Don't blame yourself. If you're having trouble making friends or if it's taking longer than you expected, don't blame yourself. If you do this by calling yourself a loser, it will reflect in your behavior and how you present yourself. People are attracted to people who are confident and with whom they will be comfortable (or at least appear to be). So stay optimistic and remember all the great qualities you have to offer.
Be demanding. When looking for new friends, it can be tempting to accept everyone and at the same time those who seem receptive. However, don't get carried away, if someone gives you the wrong impression, i.e. they come across as too negative, abusive or manipulative in some way, it's best that you keep your distance. and you walk away from it. Bad friends are more dangerous than enemies. [11]
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