Socializing is not for everyone. It can be simple for extroverts and people who are involved in extracurriculars, but more difficult for people who are introverted and reserved. For those people in specific, high school can look like a nightmare.
In high school, it is important to have a support system, especially for freshmen or new students. High school will throw unexpected curveballs at you, so having someone by your side is crucial. For those who struggle with breaking out of your shell, this one’s for you.
Firstly, it is important to recognize that it is OKAY to be yourself. As cliche as it might sound, surrounding yourself with people who are similar to you and have similar interests is key. This can mean joining a sport or a club, or even creating a new club to gather people with those interests. People who accept your personality and interests are the people to surround yourself with.
“Something that helped me make friends was doing volleyball because all of the girls had a common interest,” Isabelle Dennis ‘26 said.
After gathering people with interests similar to yours, the next step is having a conversation. It doesn’t need to be anything complex, a simple hello can start a good conversation. As you progress through high school, getting the chance to choose the classes you take is a great opportunity to connect with people with similar interests. Talking about what is going on in said class and bonding over this could make for an excellent conversation starter.
“When I first moved to Green I really struggled at first to find friends because I felt like everyone already had a content group of friends. I started making friends over time because I am a really social person and I talk to everyone. Playing volleyball helped a lot in middle school and now in highschool because it’s really time consuming so you get close with your teammates,” Adyson Desonne ‘26 said.
Getting involved in high school functions is also a factor to consider when trying to make friends. High school is a great place to socialize, while there are numerous opportunities for that exactly. This could include attending a football or basketball game in the student section, or volunteering at a community event. Socializing may seem scary, but it serves as an opportunity to get to know people further.
“Having a really outgoing personality and just talking to new people helped me a lot,” Chloe Heim ‘27 said.
As there are both negatives and positives to social media, a positive is that it is a great way to connect with people. Social media is a way to show people about yourself and your interests. Plus, you won’t have to have face to face conversations! It is a way to connect with people from your highschool or from surrounding schools with similar interests.
Body language is also a factor to keep in mind when trying to connect with people. When approaching someone to talk, the last thing you want to do is look uninterested and bored. Approach people with a smile, and make eye contact with the person. This is something that can be difficult for shy people, however, it is something to keep in mind when meeting new people.
As all of these points are valid and helpful when making friends, if you take one thing from this article: be you! There is no better way to make good friends who will genuinely enjoy your company than to do just that. Simply doing what you do will attract the right people to come into your life.
High School is hard. Making friends is hard. But after finding the right people to go about life with, it’ll all be worth it.
