Making Friends & Keeping Them

A real friend is someone that you feel safe sharing your true thoughts and feelings with. Friends often have things in common like a hobby. Or maybe you both have had a similar experience. But sometimes, you may also admire, respect and connect with kids who are very different from you. Being a good friend means respecting each other’s unique qualities. Good friends laugh with you but don’t have fun at your expense. They are trustworthy and will not tell other kids things that were shared in private. True friends will continue to be your friend even when others choose not to like you.

Tipler Middle School will have a lot more students than your elementary school so there are many opportunities to meet new kids and make new friends. Don’t be surprised or upset if some of the friends you have now start hanging out with new people. Making new friends is a natural part of middle school. As people grow, they change, develop new interests, become good at doing new things. You may find that you enjoy being around your new friends more than the friends you had in elementary school. That’s ok, but remember to consider the feelings of others. You can keep your old friends and still make new ones. The best way to make new friends is to be yourself. Real friends like you for who you are. Talk to your parents about setting up some activities for you and a few classmates you would like to be friends with. You could play video games, watch a movie, have pizza or whatever you favorite food may be. Having classmates over to your house is a good way to start new friendships.

Making friends is one of the most important parts of middle school. Remember the following about being a good friend: *Be honest and truthful. *Take turns deciding what activities to do. *Show interest in what is important to your friends. *Being with friends should be fun – be silly and use humor when you are with others. *Real friends don’t listen to gossip about you because they know and trust you. *Friends say they are sorry when they offend each other. *Friends pay attention to what’s important in each other’s lives.

Page created by Keith Thompson, Counselor
May 2005