Do you have any tips for making friends, especially when you’re shy? 

-Anonymous Blazer

Dear Fellow Sister, 

Making friends is incredibly difficult for anyone, especially when you are shy. There are no set of instructions which gives a step by step on how to make friends, but here are a few tips that can help.  

My first tip is to always be kind, even in the littlest of ways. This seems so simple, that it sounds ridiculous, but sometimes we get carried away in our crazy lives that we forget to make small acts of kindness. Think about the last time you picked up something someone dropped, the last time you smiled at a stranger, the last time you asked if you could help someone when you see them struggling, or even that last time you stopped to give a random person a compliment. Even something as little as saying “good morning” to someone could affect the outcome of their day, so always make an effort to be a good part of someone’s life! Those who take notice of your good deeds will always remember you and the kindness you shared, which will draw them towards you. 

My second tip is to always be true to yourself. The hidden beauty of this world is how every person is so unique, that out of eight-billion people on this earth, there are never two entirely identical people. Although we are so diverse, humans usually tend to gravitate towards the people that they can relate to, we drive on connection and compatibility, so if someone sees that you share similar interests, they will gravitate towards you and want to befriend you. All the quirks and interesting attributes we carry are alike so many people that the more you share your distinctiveness, the more people you can connect with. 

My third tip is to get involved in extracurricular activities such as sports, clubs, service programs, etc. Similar to what I previously stated, people operate on interrelation, so joining a club that interests you is a great way to connect with those who share that interest. Not only will you find people that you can bond with over a shared interest, but you will also see them continually in a comfortable environment, so that your friendship will continue to grow as time goes on.  

There are also a few things you should always keep in mind. High school is all about self-discovery and the friends you surround yourself with play a huge role. Rolling with the wrong crowd is not the way to make good friends, being a good person is. Always be confident in who you are and love yourself because, at the end of the day, the only person that will be with you through everything is yourself, so if you cannot love yourself how can you truly love someone else that you spend less time with? You do not need a huge group of friends to be happy. Personally, I know almost everyone in my grade, but I have about five to seven friends that I would call close. One good friend is worth a thousand fake ones. Overall, you do not need to be popular to have friends, you just need to be a good person and those whom you seek will attract themselves to you. 

If you would like to submit any questions that you would like advice on, these questions can range from friends, school, family, etc., then click on the link below to submit! All your submissions will remain confidential and anonymous, but it you submit anything about hurting yourself or others, a counselor must be notified. If you ever feel that way, please reach out and get help, you deserve to be here and you deserve to be loved! 

https://forms.office.com/r/6kCM3VrPLh  

With immense love,  

Your Sisterly Blazer 💙🤍