Make Friends on the First Day of School

Do you feel alone on the first day of school and want someone to talk to? This will show you how to get friends on the first day. Get friends and keep them too! The first month is critical- the impression and friends you make within this time will probably be around with you for your entire school career!

Steps

Your first impression

  1. Make a good first impression. People don't usually mean to judge you, but they will do it subconsciously anyway. Make sure you are at least clean for your first day, because fresh breath is really important, too. Chewing gum all the time makes you look like a cow-chewing cud.
  2. Dress in a non-threatening way that is still you. You may have to tone yourself down a bit before you feel acceptable, but don't erase your personality completely from your look. If you usually were sweats and a t-shirt, try to dress yourself up a little, but if you usually wear dresses, dress it down.
  3. Smile! Possibly, you won't feel like it. In fact, very few people will; but if you do, people will assume you are confident and friendly, and therefore, they will be drawn to you. Smile and you'll be a people-cobweb. Just remember - a real smile comes from the eyes.

Making friends

  1. Chances are, you and a lot of other new people will be in a place all at once (canteen, field, playground). A good way to make contact with someone is to ask them if you can sit in the seat near them. This is especially effective if you are alone.
  2. Try to forge good relationships with people in your classes, as these are the people you are forced to be around. If you've got a spare pencil and someone needs one, lend it to them. Ask them questions: "How was your weekend?", "What class have you got next?" and so on, are standard questions that will create at least a small conversation. Respond with a friendly attitude instead of a haughty or bored one.
  3. If someone is giving off friendly vibes, compliment their look, clothes or bag. You have a better chance of becoming friends if you do.
  4. Get involved in things. Extra curricular activities are a great way to bond with others and make new friends, while playing a sport or developing a skill.

Staying true to yourself

  1. Be yourself. Don't do anything that you don't feel comfortable with, including taking up smoking, following celebrity culture or wearing the latest fashions. Don't go with peer pressure: dress however you want, but don't expect others to do the same.
  2. Be different and unique, but don't deliberately try to stand out from everyone else so much that everyone can see you're trying too hard. Wear different clothes or do different sports or have an unusual hobby, but don't rub it in everyone's face or they'll just think you're showing-off. Be simple and yourself. If you do make friends, people will like you later on into the friendship for who you are.

Tips

  • Don't be afraid to be bold. Just go up to someone and say "Hi" or "I'm new here" or any conversation starter. Who's going to stop you?
  • Notice little details about people and create conversations from it. If someone has a badge with a band on it, comment on them.
  • Don't dress suggestively or in incredibly uncomfortable clothes like high heels. No one is going to want to hang out with someone who can't walk more than {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} without moaning.
  • Remember, first impressions are important. You don't get a second one!
  • Always be a nice person.
  • Clean yourself up; wear clean clothes, and remember to always have fresh breath (buy some mints or breath spray).
  • Slip obscure parts of your personality into conversations to find someone who thinks the same way as you. A surprisingly high amount of people like sub-cultures such as Stargate and Star Trek. Another way to show people who you really are is to wear badges or patches with references to your hobbies on.
  • Be kind, friendly and cheerful, as this will leave a good impression on others, making them more likely to talk to you and want to be friends.

Warnings

  • Don't talk about yourself all the time. Let the other person do some of the talking. That makes them feel good about themselves, too.
  • People love talking about themselves. Ask them personal questions such as "What are your hobbies?" but not too personal, otherwise it'll seem like you are prying.
  • Don't lie. It's not a good way to make friends. Saying you live in a multimillion house with a swimming pool will call for some serious explaining to do when they want to come around and you live in a council flat!
  • Don't talk to anyone who obviously doesn't want to be bothered.
  • Don't lend out money to people you've just met - not only is there absolutely no guarantee that you'll get it back, it can also make you look like you're trying to show off your wealth, and they will continuously do it over and over again.

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