Building a Social Life for Busy High Schoolers

Sometimes it feels like we spend most of our day sitting and studying, only able to talk to friends in the brief intermissions between classes. It is easy to miss the social life that we had in middle school. Sometimes forging new social connections seems like an uphill task. Here are a few methods to make sure your high school experience is filled with more than just books and laptops:

• Attend school events like HOCO, TOLO or football games: They help you foster a stronger bond with the school community and meet new people. When everyone is gathered together for the sole purpose of having fun, it can give you the refreshment you need to realize that high school is more than just grades.
• Want to participate in social events related more to academics: Create study groups so you can prepare for assignments while also catching up with friends. After all, no study session has ever been perfectly on task! Additionally, to change up the pace, you could meet in various locations, like Starbucks or a friend’s house. You could use these meetups as rewards after a busy week as well, where you and your friends do nothing but relieve stress.
• Volunteer for events: By stepping out of your comfort zone and volunteering for events, you can meet new people and contribute to your community. Volunteering also helps you learn more about yourself, what interests you, and brings a feeling of accomplishment when you feel you are part of a cause.
• Expand on your interests: If you like volleyball, try out for the volleyball team. Being a part of a sports team immediately adds a sense of camaraderie and team spirit to your day as you will most likely be seeing your teammates on a day-to-day basis and will have to build your school schedule around the sport.
• Create a workout group: If you go to the gym, this strategy will help you add a human aspect to a repetitive routine, as well as provide you with a system that will help keep you accountable during your workouts.

Last but not least, don’t forget the power of social media. While there are downsides to using too much social media, it can bridge the gap between you and a friend that don’t see each other that often. Even a quick text or message to your friend can spark a long, interesting conversation that you would never have had if you didn’t make the effort to reach out.

“You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” – A.A. Milne