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Dear Jellybean,
I went to a very small middle school where I was essentially a loner. When I got to high school I made friends who I have hung out with for the last two years but this year they are all in different courses than I am so we are not in class together and my friends are always doing school work on the weekends. How can I become friends with the other students in my classes?
Dear Writer,
I've always found that friendships happen when people get thrown together in an activity. That's why I am a huge fan of joining after-school clubs and teams - anything from sports to drama to the creative writing club to school politics to charity work to the decorating committee for dances - because it's a great way to bond with people who share your interests and make new friends. Plus, you get something fun to do after school, and it can spark interests that lead to life-long passions.
Another way to get closer to people in your classes is to go on a campaign of being nice to people. Select someone who sits near you, and when you see them walking into class, give them a sincere compliment on their hair, or something they're wearing. After class, you could tell someone you liked what they said in response to a question, or enjoyed a poem of theirs that they read. When you extend yourself and let someone know you think they're worth liking, very often they'll extend themselves in return, and a friendship begins.
