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You’re more likely to be friends with someone if you have something in common with them. Try to find clubs or groups based on your favorite hobbies, then join them to meet like-minded people. Also, pay attention to people who spend their free time doing the same things you love to do.  If you love to draw, for instance, you could register for an art class, attend art shows, or look for people who are doodling during math class. If you’re a passionate reader, join a book club, go to public readings, or strike up a conversation with someone who carries novels around with their textbooks. Ask your favorite teachers if they can recommend any academic clubs for you to join! These can include debate teams, clubs for entrepreneurs, or a math quiz team. Finding someone who will treat you well and support you is more important than popularity. Avoid spending time with people who talk bad about others or put them down. Instead, look for people who invite others to sit with them at lunch, who encourage others when they speak up in class, or who are always willing to help when someone needs a hand.  When you’re around someone, you should feel comfortable acting like yourself around them. A friend should never make you feel bad for being who you are. You may be interested in befriending some of the most popular people in school, but if they are disrespectful to you or to others, they probably won’t be a true friend. You should feel like the other person supports and respects you. If you already have a few friends but you’re looking to meet more people, try getting to know the other people your friends know. If you don’t have a chance to hang out during the school day, try setting up a group event after school or on the weekends. This can be as informal as walking home together, or it can be a planned activity everyone can participate in.  For instance, you could have your friends start meeting once a week at a local pizza place after school. Each week, encourage your friends to invite as many of their mutual friends as they want. By making it a regular occurrence, you can build new friendships gradually. You could also attend group events like flag football games or even study groups to meet new people. While making eye contact is an important part of communication, you might be able to learn something by looking at people’s feet, too. Some people believe that groups of people standing in a circle with their feet all pointing to the center are less likely to welcome a new member, but those who have their toes pointing out are more likely to welcome you to join them. It might sound crazy, but if you’re trying to make new friends, give this a try the next time you see groups of people chatting in the hall, at a party, or at a social event. If you really want to branch out and find new friends, consider stretching your current experience and trying something entirely new, like an intramural sport. Most schools have a variety of intramural teams, so you should be able to find one that sounds fun to you. Find out when they meet, then attend the next event to inquire about joining. You don’t have to be great at sports to play intramurals. Intramurals could be anything from soccer and flag football to frisbee, golf, and dodgeball. Mostly, they’re designed to be a great way to have a good time, get some exercise, and gain a whole new team of friends. Many times, schools will provide opportunities for students to mingle outside of the classroom. Take advantage of these activities when they come up. After all, the more often you cross paths with someone, the more likely you are to become friends with them, since you’ll have more of a chance to get to know them better.  Afterschool social events might include school dances, movie nights, mixers, and plays. If you attend sporting events, not only will you build a bond with the other students cheering on the team, but the athletes may appreciate the fact that you came out to support them, especially if it’s a team that doesn’t draw a huge crowd. It can sometimes help to invite someone else to go with you to an event like this, since sitting by yourself can be lonely. Just pick someone you’d like to get to know better and say something like, “Hey, Stephen, I was thinking of the baseball game tonight, do you want to go with me?” Even if they can’t go to that particular event, they’ll remember that you asked them, and they’ll be more likely to consider you as a friend. If you’re struggling to make friends, you may be completely unaware that you are creating a bubble around yourself that can make it difficult for others to get to you. When you’re walking through the halls, hold your head up high, smile at people when you make eye contact, and talk to others whenever you get the chance.  Talking to other people during the day doesn’t have to involve long conversations with someone you don’t know well. It could be as simple as saying something like, “How are you today?” when you’re standing near someone at your locker, or “Hey, I liked your presentation!” after someone does a good job giving a speech in class. If you feel stuck in a routine that keeps you from interacting with people, try changing things up. For instance, you could try taking a new hall to get to class, which will give you a chance to interact with people you might not see otherwise. While social media can seem like interaction, adding a virtual friend is not the same as a personal friendship. Your new friends could be right in front of you, but if you’re looking at your phone all day, you won’t get a chance to find out. Get some actual face time with other people by simply putting down your phone and interacting with the world around you.  If you are wearing headphones when you are walking around, it can give off the impression that you don’t want to talk to anyone. Leave them out if you want to focus on making new friends. Don’t spend so much time following celebs on Insta that you forget to participate in your own life!

Summary:
Look for people who have the same hobbies as you. Spend time around people who show kindness. Make new friends through your current friends. Look for a group who’s standing with their feet pointed outward. Join an intramural sport for a fun way to meet people. Attend social events like dances and sporting events. Avoid shutting yourself off from others, even if you feel lonely. Unplug from your devices and participate in the real world.