Friendship Story
Making Friends
Making a new friend takes time and even a little courage,
but it’s worth it because good friends are like . . .
a sunny day. (Friends make life happier.)
an umbrella in the rain. (Friends make gloomy days more comfy.)
a pile of autumn leaves. (Friends make everything more fun.)
Friend Finders
Sometimes it just takes being in the right place at the right time to find
a friend. Get involved in activities you enjoy, and you’ll improve your
chances of meeting someone to enjoy them with.
Play a sport
Join the team! Regular practices and
exciting games and events can lead to
close friendships. If competitive team
sports aren’t your thing, consider ice
skating, tae kwon do, or even fencing.
Start something
What are you into? If it’s reading, start a
book club. If it’s chess, start a chess club.
If it’s dance, start a dance club. Try to get
girls together who like the same thing,
and it’s almost sure to pay off. Ask your
teacher, librarian, or coach to help you
get something going.
Just get out of the house!
Watch for opportunities to get together
with girls in your community, neighbor-
hood, church, or school. Sign up for a 5K
fun run or bake-sale booth to benefit a
good cause. Participate in a park cleanup
or school fund-raiser. Put yourself in situa-
tions where you can meet people, and
hey, you just might!
Take a class
What have you always wanted to try?
Swimming? Cooking? Drawing or yoga
or horseback riding? You’ll be surrounded
by people to meet, and you’ll learn
something new!
Join a club
In after-school groups such as service
clubs, scouts, or student council, you’ll
work on projects together and, chances
are, find friends, too.
Conversation
Starters
When it comes to making new friends, someone has to start
the conversation. Here are some good ways to get talking:
Find something
in common
I saw you at the concert.
Do you like jazz, too?
Offer to help
I can show you
where that
classroom is.
Just introduce yourself!
Hi! I’m Alisha.
I think we’re in
the same class.
Show an interest
I’ve been wanting to
read that book.
Do you like it?
Give a compliment
I like your haircut.
It looks great!
Share a little
I moved once, too,
so I know it’s really
hard at first.
Ask an opinion
What do you think
of the new soccer
uniforms?
Offer an invitation
Want to sit
together at lunch?
I like
your
scarf.
Thanks! I made it.
Do you know how
to knit?
Keep the conversation going!
Once you’ve had a conversation, don’t let it stop there. Look for chances to talk again.
The more you talk, the more you’ll get to know if this girl might be a good friend for you.
No.
I wish I did,
though.
I can teach you.
Let’s talk at lunch!
Could someone be
trying to talk to you?
You might be thinking so much about
starting a conversation with one girl that
you don’t notice another girl trying to
start a conversation with you. Chances are,
someone out there wants to get to know
you better, too!
When You Feel Shy
Sometimes walking up to someone you don’t know feels like a big deal.
It can be really hard. And to make it even harder, shyness can sometimes
be confusing for other girls who want to get to know you.
She’s not talking to me.
Is she just feeling shy? Or does
that mean she doesn’t want to
be friends with me?