Moving to a new school can be an exciting and stressful time. Even if you’re excited about your new surroundings and ready to make friends, it can be tough to break the ice and make connections with your new peers.
Whether you’re entering high school or college or moving across town or across the country, here are some tips on how to introduce yourself in a new school.
1) Don’t be shy
Don’t be shy about introducing yourself! It can feel really awkward, but it’s the best way to make friends.
The first step is to find someone you have something in common with. After that, just start talking like you would with any other person.
It might help if you ask them what their favorite movie or TV show is or what they like about their classes.
But don’t be too pushy – if they’re not ready for conversation, just leave them alone and find another friend.
If you want to join an after-school club or team, then don’t forget to sign up before everyone else does!
2) Smile and look friendly
Smile and make eye contact with people as they pass you by. Try to greet them with a smile and offer your hand for a handshake.
Greeting people at your new school will help you start off on the right foot.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions! You might not understand something, but that’s what teachers are there for.
If you’re ever lost or don’t know where something is, try asking an upperclassman or faculty member who might have some insight.
Remember to always say please and thank you if someone helps you out.
Finally, if you see a teacher around the building looking busy, feel free to stop them and ask for assistance or direction – this can make their day much easier!
3) Remember names
Remembering names can be tough, but it is important. One way to do this is to repeat the name of the person you just met while shaking their hand.
This not only reinforces the memory of their name, but also makes you more memorable. And if you have trouble remembering faces?
Introduce them with a handshake and say your first name while they say theirs.
You might not always remember names, but at least you’ll know who they are!
4) Take an interest in your peers
What are your favorite hobbies? What’s your favorite TV show? These are simple questions you can ask to start a conversation with someone.
It is important that you take an interest in your peers if you want them to take an interest in you! If they see that you have things in common, they may be more inclined to become friends.
Be considerate of the person you are talking to and make sure that what you say doesn’t offend them or come off as rude.
Put down your phone when engaging in conversation and give the other person your full attention.
Get involved in clubs, sports teams, or other activities at school so people will see you as an active member of the community who has a lot of interests and talents.
Smile often; it is contagious and will help build positive relationships with others around you!
5) Make friends with the right people
One of the best ways to make friends is by joining an extracurricular. You’ll have plenty of time to talk with people who share similar interests, and you’ll have something in common from the get-go.
If you’re not sure what type of extracurricular club would be right for you, try out more than one and see where it leads!
You can also volunteer your time at different schools and other community organizations that interest you.
These are all great ways to meet new people while doing things that matter. Getting involved and giving back will help you feel good about being in a new place, too!
It’s easy to shy away from meeting people when you don’t know anyone, but remember that the only way to break into the social scene is by making connections.
As hard as it might seem at first, approaching someone else with an open mind and genuine intentions will go a long way toward getting off on the right foot in your new school environment.
6) Be polite to teachers
It’s easy to get excited and talk too much, but it’s always better when you’re polite. Introduce yourself, answer their questions, and keep the conversation going by asking them questions about themselves.
It’ll help you feel more comfortable at your new school. If they’re not all there at first, give them time.
Teachers can’t meet every student right away because they have so many kids to teach.
If they do forget, don’t take it personally! Don’t be afraid to approach a teacher if you have any questions or concerns.
After all, that’s what teachers are there for – students! Be friendly with other students: In addition to introducing yourself politely to teachers, remember that this is an important step for making friends as well!
7) Care about your grades
I don’t think grades are the most important thing, but they can help you gauge your progress and get an idea of what you need to work on.
I know that I’m the only one who will care about my grades, so it’s up to me not just my teachers.
If you’re doing well academically, then you’ll be more likely to make friends with other people who do well in school.
It also means that when you want to go somewhere like a research lab or another country for college, admissions officers will be more likely to give your application a second look if they see good grades from high school.
8) Make time for studying
If you want to do well academically, you’ll need to make time for studying. If there are any extracurriculars that interest you, don’t forget about them either.
This is all part of being an active member of the school community. You should also get involved with clubs or sports so that people will see you out and about at different times and know that they can talk with you if they have something they want to say.
Volunteering is another good way to meet other students, teachers and staff. Ask your teachers what volunteer opportunities they offer.
The best advice I can give is not to be afraid to try new things because you never know what might become your favourite thing!
