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Making new friends
There are some things that you can never have too much of - chocolate and friends.
Having friends makes everything so much easier; they are great for sharing your problems with, having a gossip or heading out on the town with.
But what happens if your friend moves away or you start a new job or college and you need to make new friends. How do you go about it?
Shy, who me?
Try to speak to as many people as possible. If you are shy try to imagine yourself as a really confident person, and adopt an alter ego. The singer Beyonce adopts a new persona when she goes on stage, which allows her to transform into a confident performer. It may look that everyone else has bags of confidence and that you are the only shy person in the room- but confidence is something that you can fake on the outside, even if you don’t feel it on the inside. The good thing is that after a while you won’t have to try so hard to fake it, as it will come naturally!
The best way to meet new people is by getting involved
It’s important to get yourself out there, as potential friends will not come looking for you as you sit slouched in front of the television. If you like sports the perfect way to meet a whole new circle of friends is to join a sports club. Believe me, if you can’t bond with someone after three tough training sessions a week- well, maybe you guys just aren’t compatible. Or if sports just isn’t for you then join some other sort of group, perhaps a book club, music class or get involved in volunteering.
If you are starting college, try to get involved in as much as possible from the very start. This is the best time as everyone is in the same boat and they are looking for new friends too. There are loads of clubs to get involved in from chess to drama, soccer to basketball. The best time to join these is during Freshers’ week.
A good way to make friends is to mix with people who share the same interests as you. This will make it easier to strike up a conversation and will help to avoid those dreaded awkward silences. Try to relax around new people, make eye contact and remember to smile.
If you do find someone who you click with, always swap contact details so you can stay in contact. Swap phone numbers or email addresses. But remember your personal safety and to be wary when giving contact details to new people.
Moving away does not mean that you have to forget your old friends completely. Make sure you stay in touch, either by phone or email.
By: Marie Duffy
