How to Make Friends

By Emilia Ferrara & Suzi Oh


Welcome back to Ubique, students! 

As we all know, making friends can be extremely nerve-racking especially if you’re a shy individual trying to be funny. Most people aren’t naturally funny but don't worry, with my foolproof guide, you'll be on your way to having a social circle as wide as a jumbo pizza.

This is the ultimate guide on how to make friends. Whether you’re in year 7 or in year 12.

Step 1: Be Yourself

I know, I know, it's a cliché. But seriously, if you're pretending to be someone you're not, how can you expect people to like you for who you are? It's like putting on a disguise and trying to convince everyone you're Batman :( Unless you actually have a dark blue latex bodysuit with bat-shaped boomerangs, it's not going to work.

Step 2: Don't be a Weirdo

This may seem obvious, but trust me, I've seen some things. Don't follow people around like a lost puppy, don't talk to yourself, and for the love of god, don't pick your nose in public. You want to be remembered for your glittering personality, not your nose-picking. 

Step 3: Find Common Ground

You don't have to have the same interests as someone to be their friend, but it certainly helps. Maybe you both love basketball, or you're both obsessed with cats. Whatever it is, use it as a conversation starter. And if you're really desperate, you can always resort to the weather. But that’s kinda lame, so you decide.

Step 4: Be a Good Listener

If you're talking to someone and all you're thinking about is what you're going to say next, you're not really listening. And if you're not really listening, the other person will know. So put down your phone, take your headphones off,  make eye contact, and nod along like you're actually interested. It's not that hard, I promise.

Step 5: Be Prepared

You never know when an opportunity to make a friend will present itself, so be ready. Always carry your copy of the Christian bible, a jar of your grandma's pickled toe, and a bag of gummy bears. Okay, maybe not the gummy bears, but you get the idea. If you're prepared, you'll never have to resort to awkward small talk.

Step 6: Join a Club

This one is a no-brainer. If you're interested in something, chances are there's a club for it. At Unihigh, we’re very lucky to have such diverse and widespread clubs. Some of the clubs include guitar club, games dev club, robotics club, miniature painting club, knitting club, classics club and more. No matter what club you choose to join you'll find like-minded people who are just waiting to be your friend. And if there isn't a club for what you're interested in, start one! You'll be the coolest kid in school. Or not?

Step 7: Don't Be Desperate

This is probably the most important step. If you're too desperate to make friends, people will sense it and run in the opposite direction. So take a deep breath, relax, and remember that it's okay to be alone sometimes. You don't need a hundred friends to be happy. Most of the time!!

So there you have it, folks. Seven easy steps to making friends. But just in case you need a little extra help, I've compiled a list of conversation starters to get you going:

  • "Have you ever seen a ghost?"

  • "What's your favourite type of cheese?"

  • "If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?"

  • "Do you believe in aliens?"

  • "What's your opinion on pineapple on pizza?"

Use these wisely, my friends. And remember, making friends is supposed to be fun. So go out there and be the social butterfly you were always meant to be.




Ubique Team