By Hannah Magino
The friendships we develop in high school are important. Your friends become the people you rely on through the next four eventful years of your life. Choosing the right people to allow into your circle is essential for your well-being.
What are the benefits of friendships?
Good friends provide you with a support system. They are there for you during the ups and downs of your teenage life. They give you advice, make you laugh, and are your biggest supporters during your accomplishments. Mentally, they provide someone to talk to and relate to the issues you may face with school or life in general. Not only do good friends help your mental health but they also are beneficial for your physical health. Good friends help you prevent developing unhealthy lifestyle habits (ex. excessive drinking, lack of exercise).
Here are some tips for making good friends in high school:
Look for people with similar interests
Interacting with people who share similar interests as you can form bonds. The passion that you both have for similar topics could show the type of person they are, and an appreciation for each other could develop, making a good friend. By joining school clubs or sports, you will surround yourself with people with the same interest.
Spend time with kind people
When looking for your friends, surround yourself with people who are kind and want the best for you. Especially in high school, many teens could treat others poorly. Look at how they treat their teachers and other students around them. The kind people will be the ones there to support you.
Become friends with mutuals
If you are looking to make good friends, turn to the friends you may currently have. Spend time talking to friends they may have. Not only would it be less awkward to befriend them, but they probably share the same values as you since your friend is friends with them. It provides an easier way to expand your friend group with good people.
Don’t try to fit in with the wrong group
Peer pressure is very common through the halls of high school. Good friends won’t make you feel the need to change who you are to fit in with them. When making good friends, make sure you guys are the right fit and your values are similar. If not, there is nothing wrong with removing yourself from that friendship.
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Making good friends is essential in this roller coaster we call high school. They provide you with a support system that you will need as you navigate through the next few years of school and the rest of your life.
References:
https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/how-to-make-new-friends-at-school/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/friendships/art-20044860
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/cliques.html
https://young.scot/get-informed/national/a-shy-persons-guide-to-making-friends-at-school
