Just
say hello
Many teens agree that one of the scariest places is school! Figuring
out where to sit – and more importantly, with whom –
can be intimidating, threatening and downright unappetising. From
dealing with cliques to worrying about the rumour mill, finding
your place in a crowd can be stressful. But whether you are starting
at a new school, or just settling back in after the break, here
are some tips for making friends that you can count on – even
in a not-so-friendly environment!
Get involved
Trying out for the school play, joining the basketball
team, or working on a school magazine are great ways to meet friends.
So what if you don’t actually get picked for the swimming
squad or basketball team? Chances are you and the other hopefuls
will bond over the experience. Getting involved in activities requires
a little effort on your part, but it’s a great way to meet
people with similar interests.
Feeling
frustrated because you got the cold shoulder from an old friend,
who is suddenly too cool to smile or even say hello? There’s
nothing worse than being dissed, so remember that the next time
someone tries to break in to your crowd. Treat people the way you
want to be treated – that means being nice to everyone, even
if they aren’t in your circle of friends or members of the
cool crowd. If you keep on getting snubbed by a particular person
or clique, move on! You don’t need friends that treat you,
or anyone else, with attitude.
Pass
on popularity
We know that you’ve heard it before, but it’s true –
life is not a popularity contest! If you’re looking to make
real friends (like the kind that last longer than second period),
then stop focusing on who’s cool and who’s not. According
to Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees and Wannabees, many teens
think that being popular will solve all their problems, but this
is simply not the case.
So
don’t limit your circle of friends to only the ‘in crowd.’
Don’t worry that just because you are a great athlete means
that you can’t also hang out with your friends from the debate
team. Making friends with different backgrounds and different interests
makes life a lot more exciting.
Be
yourself
You may not be the funniest person in your class, or have
the best bowling arm that the team has ever seen, but that’s
okay! True friends will stand by you and support you no matter what.
Acting fake to win friends won’t get you very far. In fact,
most people will see right through the plastic-act. So the bottom
line is to be who you are. You don’t have to act all phony
to hang out with friends. Real friends know the real you, and they
have your back even when things aren’t so great.
Truer
words were never spoken! So relax, be yourself, and be nice. The
next time someone approaches you and asks, “Is this seat taken?”
move over, and make room for some new friends!
|
