How to Make Friends at New School

Are you having a hard time transferring to a new school? Is everything so strange that you don’t even know which way to go to classes? Making new friends may not be easy, because almost everyone has a group opportunity. But don’t be discouraged; Either way you will adapt to the new environment! You will be more likely to make friends when you gain confidence, appear friendly, and get along with people.

Table of Contents

Find confidence

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Take a deep breath and relax. Don’t worry too much. Remember that you’re not the only one looking to make new friends. Depending on when you arrive at your new school, many of you may have already joined, but there will be many other students looking for new friends just like you. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. ^{[1] X Research Source}

You may have fewer friends than you did at your old school, but that’s okay. Life is always in motion, social relationships have ups and downs, and it’s not your fault.

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Be yourself . Never lose yourself just trying to “fit in”. If someone doesn’t accept you for who you are, they are not true friends. Most people who belong to a certain group simply because they inherently have their own personalities and interests fall into the same pattern.

For example, one student with a talent for athletics might join the school’s sports team, while another with an artistic talent will make friends with other students who are also artistically inclined.

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Wear your favorite outfit. Clothing has a huge impact on your image and confidence. Instead of trying to wear clothes that you think will impress others, wear clothes that you like. It will let people know a part of your personality, but most importantly, you will feel comfortable in an outfit that suits you. ^{[2] X Research Source}

If your school has a uniform policy, try to find a way for it to reflect your personality. Many schools allow students to choose from several styles of uniforms. A stylish hair clip is also great..

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Visualize your destination. When it comes to building confidence, it’s important to change the way you think. Instead of worrying that you won’t find friends, draw in front of your eyes how you’ve done it and are meeting new friends. Acknowledge small successes like the scene where you talk to a stranger and enjoy the conversation. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Be friendly

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Smile. Smiling makes you seem more approachable. When walking through the hallway, don’t clutch your bag to your chest or keep your eyes on the floor. Raise your head and look people in the eye. If you meet someone you know, smile and say hello. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Ask questions. Sure, you’ll want to introduce yourself and tell people a little bit about yourself when you get to know someone. However, if you ask around, people will feel that you care more about them, and that is a sign of a good friend.

You can also start a conversation with a question, like “Is the food in the canteen good?” or “How long have you been at this school?”
Use questions to compliment people when you start a conversation: “Your shoes look lovely. Where did you buy it?” ^{[6] X Research Sources}

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Do good deeds for others. Make room for someone. Say hello when you meet someone you know in the hallway. Celebrate the achievements of others. Say compliments like “I like your shoes/backpack”. This will be very effective.

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Don’t try to force. No matter how hard you try to be kind and friendly, not everyone wants to be your friend. They have their own reasons, maybe they simply don’t have the same interests as you. If you feel like someone doesn’t want to hang out with you or if they tell you directly, don’t go after that person. You can’t force them to be friends with you. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Get on well

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Actively familiarize yourself. Anywhere, from the locker area to the drinking fountain, you can find someone who has something in common with you, as long as you know how to approach them. Start a conversation, smile and compliment her, and of course introduce yourself, let them know where you come from! You can’t predict where you will meet a good friend, right?

Since you are a newcomer, people will be curious and will be more interested in talking to you. Take advantage of this. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Participate in after-school activities, such as games or clubs. It does not matter whether it is a club, cultural or sports team; The important thing is that through it you have the opportunity to meet new friends that you will see regularly, both of which help you to forge new friendships. In addition, participating in extracurricular activities also means that you will find friends with similar interests more easily.

You can also take this opportunity to try new things that you never thought of when you were in your old school. Transferring to a new school is an opportunity to rediscover yourself, so don’t be afraid to try new things! ^{[9] X Research Source}

Ashley Pritchard, MA

Master, School Counselor, Caldwell University

Ashley Pritchard is an academic counselor at Delaware Valley Regional High School in Frenchtown, New Jersey. Ashley has over 3 years of school and college experience and has career counseling experience. She holds an MA in school counseling with a specialization in Mental Health from Caldwell University and is certified by the University of California as an Independent Educator.

Ashley Pritchard, MA
Master, School Counselor, Caldwell University

Expert Tip: Extracurricular activities are a great opportunity to socialize with people with similar interests. If you participated in activities at your old school, ask your teacher or classmates if there is a similar group at your new school for you to join.

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Find new transfer students. You’re probably not the only one who just moved in, and at least you have one thing in common: the same unfamiliar surroundings. Since you are all new students, making friends will not be too difficult. Tell about your old school or talk about the new school, about your feelings, about the classes, the teachers, and you will probably find something in common.

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Try to find a seat in the middle of the class. When you sit in the middle of the class, you will get more attention than sitting at the front or back of the class. You will find it easier to talk to your classmates and also have more opportunities to pair up with other students on group projects.

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Please be patient. You don’t have to make friends on the first day of your new school. Building friendships takes time, and you also need to find the right friend. As long as you don’t give up, you will definitely have good friends.

Advice

Do not listen to rumors or detractors about others. Get to know them for yourself and discover who they really are instead of believing what others say.
If you can remember the name of someone you just met for the first time, that’s fine, because it shows you care about them. But if you forget the person’s name, don’t worry, just politely ask again, and this time try to remember his or her name.
Talk about common interests, ask friends to learn small things like borrow notebooks or show directions to class. Simple as that.
After making a friend, try getting to know his or her friends.
When looking for people to make friends, remember to choose people who are kind and have similarities with you. Don’t make friends with someone just because they’re rich or something else. If you want to live a happy life, you will need a true friend, a bond that will stick with you.
Don’t rush into a group, introduce yourself slowly. Hopefully they’ll let you in!
If you see someone being bullied, stand up for them! Proving yourself to be trustworthy is also helpful, and one day she will stand up for you too!
You should find someone sitting alone at lunchtime and get to know her. Interrupting a group of friends is often seen as rude and annoying, while a person sitting alone will have nothing else to do but chat. If you’re interested in a group, you can invite them over to your house after school or ask for a phone number. But don’t be too needy.
Humor is a big plus. You can joke, but remember to avoid blatant and demeaning jokes. That’s not a good way to make friends.
If you don’t have the courage to invite someone to join you for an activity on the weekend, just go watch the football games. People will find that playing with you is fun, perhaps even inviting you to another event.
If you’re in trouble or upset, get help. A piece of advice from someone else will not only give you comfort, but it will also boost your confidence and improve your communication skills.
Your teacher or school counselor will be happy to introduce you to other classmates.
Ask your siblings how they made friends.

Warning

Maintain close relationships with family and old friends. Maybe you should also try making some friends outside of school to have someone to talk to.

Steps

Find confidence

Be friendly

Get on well

Advice

Warning

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