Whether you already have a group of friends or you’re tired of spending most of your time alone, you may be interested in meeting new people. You don’t need to run for class president to boost your ability to make new friends, but you should be willing to venture outside your daily routine to increase your chances of meeting and connecting with like-minded peers.
Step 1
Make a list of qualities you’re looking for in a friend. If you think your ideal friend would like the same movies as you or align with your religious beliefs, include those qualities on your list. However, if you expand your definition of “ideal friend,” you could gain new insights and discover new hobbies from unexpected people. When compiling your list of qualities, consider placing emphasis on personality traits such as loyalty and compassion rather than focusing only on superficial attributes.
Step 2
Participate in multiple after-school activities, such as clubs and sports activities. Branching out will give you an opportunity to spend time with teens who have similar interests. Also, join group outings, such as a pizza party after a big game; any extra time spent with your peers will give you a better chance to get to know each other, "Seventeen" magazine suggests.
Step 3
Be friendly when you’re talking to someone. During your first conversation with a person, introduce yourself, and repeat your new acquaintance’s name to increase your chances of remembering it, suggests GirlsHealth.gov. Also, try to spend an equal amount of time listening and talking to avoid seeming uninterested, and think about your words before you say them, or else you risk accidentally hurting a potential friend’s feelings.
Step 4
Eventually, invite your acquaintances to hang out aside from organized events. But first, give your budding friendships some time to develop so you feel completely comfortable talking to each other. Also, once you do decide to extend a hang-out invitation, avoid asking new people to join you at potentially awkward events, such as your grandpa’s birthday party, suggests "Seventeen" magazine. More-neutral ideas include mall excursions and going to the movies.
Step 5
Be cordial if a person declines your offer. He may also be dealing with feelings of shyness or struggling with the idea of branching out from his group of friends. He could also be busy, so he might get back to you when he has more free time.
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