Dear Ali,
I recently moved here from Virginia, and started as a sophomore at WJ. By sophomore year, most people already have their friend groups and it’s hard to find one that I fit into. I have tried talking to people and asking what they are doing after school, but it never seems to work out. How do I make friends without seeming too desperate for their attention or being annoying? Please help, I’m getting lonely. 🙁
–New and Friendless
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Dear New and Friendless,
I understand your situation — I came from a middle school on the other side of the county, so a lot of friend groups were already solidified by the time I got to WJ. Being the new kid is always hard, but the great thing about the WJ environment is that there are always opportunities to meet new people. First of all, WJ has fantastic sports teams. Though not everyone is the athletic type, trying out for a sport is a great way to make new friends. If you’re too nervous to try out for a sport where people get cut, then try Track and Field — even if you’re not the best on the squad, you will be sure to make a friend out of a running partner.
If sports are not your thing, though, WJ has a ton of clubs that meet at lunch and need members. The club members won’t care if they know you, they just want their club to be successful, so they will welcome you with open arms. If you hear about a club on the morning announcements that sounds interesting, don’t worry about going to a meeting by yourself; I promise that you will meet people there who will have similar interests to you, and you just might make a new friend.
These are two of the most obvious ways to get involved early on and make some friends in a constructive setting. You probably didn’t need me to figure those out.
However, there are also less structured ways to make friends. Ask a group of people if they are going to the next WJ sports event– football games and hockey games are crowded social gatherings that don’t require a ton of conversation but are still fun experiences. Even if you don’t know a group of people that well, they will not turn down an opportunity to hang out with their friends (and one new person).
If all else fails, you should sign up for The Pitch, Spectator, or yearbook next year! Being on a writing or photo staff is a foolproof way to make a friend.
