A practical guide on “How you can make friends at School”

How to make friends at School- 10 proven ways that work

Tried and tested methods that actually work to make friends

Wondering how to make friends at school, on your first day? You are nervous and do not know anybody. On top of that, the introvert and shy attitude you are born with does not help much. Going to school and being all by yourself, is scaring you to a limit. The loneliness is frightening.

Believe me, I was the same person as you. I was filled with shyness and used to struggle to talk to anybody, leave alone ask for their friendship. Even though my insides used to tell me to go and talk to people, I do not know why but I could not gather the much-needed courage. I wanted people to like me and be friends with me, but it never happened.

Finally, I realized that the approach was wrong. I was not making friends even when I wanted to, because I was not doing it right.

The secret formula is — You make friends “when you are interested in other people’s lives rather than them being interested in yours”. This is what I learned gradually and have made quite a few friends who are going to stay with me for a lifetime.

Ready to learn the proven ways on “How to make friends at School”, that practically work? Let us ride on.

1. Arrive early on your first day of school-

Sounds weird but this has worked for me tremendously well every time I went to a new school or college.

Arriving 10 mins earlier than the others on the first day certainly gives you an edge, especially when the whole class is new only.

Imagine you are the first one to arrive and are sitting alone. The next student who arrives will be easy to talk to because no one else is there. And supposedly, if the conversation takes a positive turn, then bang on, you are good to go. You are no longer alone now.

2. Kindness shows great results-

A small gesture like lending a pen/ pencil, sharing notes, or offering something to eat to the person sitting next to you has its way to starting a new friendship. It’s a small but effective way to get things going on a positive note between the two of you.

3. Approach a person who is also sitting lonely just like you-

Don’t you think it will be easier to approach a single person than a group of people? Moreover, empathy takes the trophy of true friendship in the Long run.

He/she is lonely and so are you, so why not both of you come together to form a team? A team, so good enough that you do not need anybody else to fill in the gap.

After all, it takes only two to tango.

4. You know a smile can do wonders-

Someone has truly said, “smile and see the world smile with you”.

Some of us have a smile that is so contagious, that it can do wonders for our personality.

Smiling at a person gives them a warm feeling towards you making them comfortable to start a conversation with you, which they would have avoided, hadn’t you smiled at them.

So see, a simple smile has the power to attract someone to you, without even you taking on the efforts to think “How to start a conversation with them”. They get into a comfort level with you and believe me when I say this, it leads to a marvelous start of a new relationship.

5. Great Friendships start with a small conversation-

Did you know saying a simple “Hi” can also be a great starter? After that go-ahead, ask open-ended questions where the person has scope to answer in detail.

Example:

Close-ended question

Q. Did you enjoy your summer vacation?

A. Yes

Rather ask an open-ended question

Q. What did you do in your summer Vacations?

You see the open-ended questions have a wider scope for an answer and thus a better scope of continuing with it.

6. Give Compliments-

This is a way to win anybody’s heart, not only win friends. Who does not like to hear good about themselves? Moreover, when you compliment someone, it gives them a feeling that you have been noticing them and thus taking interest in them.

It is a matter of pride for them and thus opens the doors of their heart for you. So just walk in and you will see a different world altogether.

7. Listening is an art not many people are good at-

Some people say that a good communicator is very good at making friends. But not many know, that not only talking but listening is also a very integral part of two-way communication.

Talking less and listening more.

Almost everybody wants somebody in their life who can listen to them, and if you can be that somebody, then I can say that both of you a privileged.

8. Going a step aboard to help somebody can be a great start-

Volunteering to help someone when nobody is ready to do that is the very first step you take towards starting a Friendship.

I am sure all of us might have heard the saying — A friend in need is a friend indeed.

9. You get things which you dare to ask-

Sitting in a corner silently will not do anything good to you. Moreover, it can lead to people thinking negatively about you like:

- You are arrogant.

- You do not care if someone talks to you or not.

- You do not want to be friends with anybody etc.

Whereas, on the inside, you are a totally different person, who is just shy. So, dare to ask-

- Ask a question.

- Ask for a favor.

- Lift your hand for a handshake.

- Ask for a friendship.

10. Hobbies and common Interests are wonderful starters-

Common interests or hobbies in two individuals are great starters for a new friendship. With a common topic to discuss, the rapport you can share with the other person can go the extra mile.

Besides the above wikiHow has enlisted amazing ideas on “How to Make Friends’ at school. Do not forget to check it out.

Summing Up:

School friendships last lifelong. However hard the start might be, the journey to leading a strong friendship throughout your subsistence is amazing. Lucky are those, who have a friend who could even die for them.

Do not miss out on that true friendship, just because you were too shy to ask for it. Step out of your hesitance and see the world is such a beautiful place to live in.