A Guide To Making High School Friends
February 28, 2020
How To Make Friends At A New High School
Making friends in high school can make even the most confident of people a nervous wreck. At this stage of your life, you tend to make some of your closest friends. High school friends are often the ones who stick with you for life. If you’ve entered into a new school without your primary school buddies at your side, you’re not alone. Many of us face the same struggle but soon you will have made some amazing new companions. Here’s how you can go about making friends.
Step one: Remember names
Part of making new high school friends comes with showing them that you’re interested in who they are. The best chance to make a good first impression is to remember their names when meeting them. To do this, find a way to link their name with a characteristic that they have or even a unique little rhyme about them. A name is important to every person as it makes them who they are. If you can remember this, you are more likely to earn their attention.
Step two: Wear a smile
There’s an old saying that goes something like, “smile and the whole world will smile with you.” Smiling makes people think you are friendly and warm. This makes it a good way to strike up a conversation and initiate a friendship. As a result, people will feel drawn to you and more willing to be your friend. It’s amazing how many things start with a smile. You might just make someone’s day.
Step three: Make people feel like they matter
Paying attention to people you meet during conversation is a good way to cement a friendship. This can be achieved through listening to what they have to say and asking them questions related to what they’ve said. It shows that you take a deeper interest in them and what they’re all about. This will make them more eager to tell you more about themselves and even ask about you.
Step four: Forget about popularity
Some of the best people you will ever meet are often not considered part of the “in-crowd.” In the same breath, a smaller group of trusted friends is often better than an army. We suggest focusing on making a few quality friends over being friends with the masses. Close friends add value to your life where a large number of friends will add stress and worry. You can also pay more attention to each of your friends instead of trying to spread yourself too thin.
Step five: Stay true to yourself
No friend is worth compromising yourself or your values for. Be who you are and those who are worthy of your friendship will appreciate you and want to be close to you. In order to have meaningful friendships, being truthful and honest with yourself and your buddies is a must. When you are authentic and genuine, your friendships will be the same too.
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As the preliminary and final examinations approach, both students and parents or guardians often experience heightened anxiety and stress. This guide provides practical strategies to help parents and guardians support their children through this critical phase of their academic journey. 1. Foster Effective Organization Create an environment conducive to studying by providing a quiet, well-lit study space equipped with essential stationery. Collaborate with your child to develop a structured study timetable to set clear expectations and promote disciplined preparation. Encourage the use of resources such as past question papers, which serve as valuable tools for revision and practice. 2. Maintain Daily Check-Ins Schedule regular, intentional conversations, such as during dinner, to discuss your child’s progress. Inquire about their experience with the day’s examination paper, adherence to their study schedule, and their feelings about upcoming tests. These check-ins foster open communication and allow you to gauge their emotional and academic state. 3. Minimize Distractions Help your child stay focused by keeping electronic devices like phones, tablets, and gaming consoles out of reach during study sessions. Set boundaries on screen time and social media access to prevent procrastination. While challenging, limiting Wi-Fi access during study hours can significantly enhance productivity. 4. Support Emotional Awareness Encourage your child to identify and articulate their emotions, such as anxiety, stress, or fatigue . Recognizing these feelings is the first step toward addressing them effectively. Discuss coping strategies to help them navigate emotional challenges during this period. 5. Teach Self-Regulation Techniques Guide your child in practicing self-regulation to manage stress. Techniques include: Breathing Exercises : Inhale deeply for four seconds, hold for four seconds, exhale for four seconds, and repeat. Sensory Focus : Identify five things they can see or hear to ground themselves in the moment. Tactile Stimulation : Hold a cold object to shift focus and reduce anxiety. These methods can help your child regain calm and focus during stressful moments. 6. Promote a Balanced Routine Prolonged study sessions late into the night can lead to burnout. Monitor your child’s study habits and encourage breaks to maintain balance. Plan activities such as outings with friends, a family meal, or short recreational periods with access to devices. Engaging in non-academic activities, like helping prepare dinner, can provide a refreshing change of focus. 7. Prioritize Self-Care Support your child’s well-being by ensuring they: Eat nutritious, regular meals. Get at least eight hours of sleep by limiting screen time before bed. Engage in physical activities such as walking, jogging, yoga, dancing, or gym workouts. These practices help alleviate stress and anxiety, which are common during examination periods. 8. Practice Empathy and Patience The examination period can be emotionally taxing for both students and parents. Approach your child with empathy, actively listening and offering guidance without criticism. This fosters a supportive environment, bolstering their mental health and sense of inclusion. By implementing these strategies, parents and guardians can play a pivotal role in helping their children navigate the challenges of examinations with confidence and resilience. Good luck to all the Grade 12 students with the upcoming examinations - you most certainly can do it!
