Questions to Ask When Making New Friends in High School

Ask your friend what high school club interests him the most.
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Trying to make new friends in high school can be a tough task. But, it is helpful to remember other students are looking for new friends as well. At the beginning of the school year, especially if you are a freshman or arriving at a new school, everyone is a little nervous about finding friends.

When you meet someone who seems friendly, simply ask questions to learn more about them and hopefully you can meet like-minded people this way. Make eye contact and don’t be afraid to make the first move. You never know what could happen if you get out of your comfort zone. You could even meet your best friend with these helpful questions.

1 Ask About Extracurricular Activities

Ask your new friend if they are involved in any school organizations or sports. One of the ways you can invest in a friendship is to figure out things you may enjoy doing together, suggests Helpguide.org. You may find out they participate in an activity that interests you or you just have similar interests overall. Perhaps a new friend says they play the flute in the school band. If you play an instrument too, ask them how you can also join. Maybe your friend is in the chess club; ask them if you can accompany them to the next meeting. Find friends, join clubs together and start having fun! Finding friends who are in the same after school activities as you gives you extra time to get to know them and make memories.

2 Ask About Favorite Subjects

Find out what classes your new friend likes and dislikes and engage in small talk to figure out why they feel that way. See if they parallel or differ from your own, or if you share any common interests. Perhaps your friend enjoys math because they would rather solve problems than write an essay. Or, your friend enjoys Spanish class because they want to travel to Mexico one day. If you find out a friend does well in a subject in which you are struggling, you can ask her to assist you with your homework or to help you study for an upcoming exam. Also, offer to help her in an area with which she is struggling.

3 Ask About Career Goals

Your new friend probably has many plans in mind for their future beyond high school. Ask them about their career pursuits and ask them to give you the reasons why those areas interest them. Asking open ended questions might also lead them to telling you stories about fun memories, places they’ve traveled or experiences they’ve had that could tell you more about them. Maybe they desire to follow in the footsteps of their older brother and become a lawyer. Perhaps they want to be a veterinarian because they are a pet lover. Additionally, ask him if he has plans to further his education after graduation. Find out what colleges interest him. He might have the same colleges as you in mind. If he does not plan to attend college, ask him if wants to join the military or go to a trade school.

4 Ask About Local Hang-Outs

Ask your new friend what places teens go after class or on the weekends, such as a local pizza shop, teen center or arcade. Suggest going together or meeting them there, you never know, they could say yes! This would be a great opportunity to start conversations or meet their group of friends. Additionally, ask for their email, social media page or text message number, so you can contact them if you want to make plans to meet up. Not only is technology an efficient way to contact friends, it can allow you to have a stronger sense of connection, Gretchen Rubin, author of "The Happiness Project," writes on "Psychology Today" online.

5 Conclusion

High school can be scary for some students and it can be hard to find close friends right off the bat. Especially if you didn’t go to middle school with the same students who go to your high school, it is important to meet people and find good friends that you can spend those 4 years with. Focus on cultivating a social life that is made up of good friends who boost your self-esteem and are a group of people you love hanging out with. Don’t be shy, and just have fun!

Wannikki Taylor is a professional writer with a Bachelors of Arts in journalism from Temple University. She serves as a children's columnist and covers family entertainment for several print and online publications. She specializes in games, crafts and party planning ideas for kids and their families.

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