Dear Bunky,

It’s been a couple of weeks since I moved here, and I’m having trouble meeting new people. I’m really lonely but no one seems to want to be my friend! What should I do?

Sincerely, Friendship

Dear Friendship,

Sometimes being at a new place can be hard. Often times, people are slow to open up because they are afraid of rejection, but this is a two way street. Your new classmates know as little about you as you do about them! Sometimes, showing initiative can result in sparkling friendships that last for years after high school! I know that it can be scary to put yourself out there, but if you want a change then you are the only one who can make it. If you want to make new friends, then you are the only one stopping you. If you take a risk and put yourself out there, I’m sure you’ll find that people will love you just for being you. I’ll bet my horns on it! You just need to remember that a social butterfly can only show its radiance if it first breaks out of its self doubt cocoon.

That’s the best way to make friends, but I understand if that’s just too frightening for you. So, for those of you having trouble and seeking an alternative, here’s a list of potential friend finding techniques:

• Find a friend on some form of social media: Your first conversation doesn’t need to be face to face, sometimes just introducing yourself online can lead to further activity. Establish a connection in a more comfortable setting and learn the other person’s personality before you try to hang out in real life.
• Join a club: If you can find a club that you’re interested in, join it and you’ll find yourself surrounded with like minded people! Not only that, but it creates a topic of conversation to start out with and jump start a relationship. This goes double for sports! Daily practice and teamwork exercises build camaraderie faster than you can say “Go Rams!”
• Finally, talk to your class partners: The teacher pairing you up with someone in your class for a project is bound to happen at some point. Discussion and collaboration over the project can help build a bond as well as conversational skills. After you’re done working for the day, try asking your partner some questions! Asking questions puts you in a dominant position, which is very comforting for some, as well as helping you to get to know the other person. If you practice this a couple of times, you’ll become more comfortable around the other person and be ready to share about yourself.

If you follow these easy methods, you’ll have a small group of friends in no time! Be prepared to spend after school time laughing with all of your friends, just don’t let it get in the way of homework!