(Photo by: Leslie Alsheimer)

(Photo by: Mike Baird)

Making new friends can be difficult. I’ve felt so blessed over the past four months, because I’ve found a wonderful circle of new friends who make my life so much happier. They’re an amazing group of people with whom I never would have expected to become friends, but now that I have, I can’t imagine life without them! With that in mind, here are some ideas for how and where to meet new friends:
1. Look for a common interest.
It’s not too hard to strike up a conversation with someone when you have something in common to discuss, such as a hobby or favorite movie. It’s a great way to break the ice and can lead to further conversations about what may make you and your friend different, which is equally fantastic.
2. Try something new!
If you’re like me, you might feel like it’s hard to make new friends in the activities in which you currently participate and the places you frequent. If that’s the case, step outside of your comfort zone and try something new to meet a different crowd of people. I’m a physiological science major in college who used to socialize mostly with people in my biology and chemistry classes, but when I found that to be less than satisfying, I enrolled in a theater class that sounded interesting. It satisfied absolutely no requirements for me and I didn’t know anyone in the class beforehand, but I ended up realizing that I had a lot more in common with those individuals than I ever would have expected.
3. Don’t let your old friends hold you back.
Just because you’re trying to make new friends doesn’t mean you’re abandoning your old ones! When I first came to college, I frequently hung out with people from my high school. Although making new friends means that I may have less time to spend with my old ones, I’ve also had the pleasure of introducing new and old friends to each other and thereby catalyzing new friendships!
4. Don’t be shy!
It can be hard to make new friends – as a naturally reserved, slightly awkward person, I know how difficult it can be! In almost any situation, however, a courteous gesture, a casual compliment, or even just a friendly greeting can go a long way and blossom into something beautiful!

About Lauren

Lauren is currently in her second year at UCLA in Los Angeles, California. She enjoys being a girl, hanging out with friends, experiencing the magic of Disneyland, singing in the shower, playing games that test her knowledge of random information, thinking too much, and being extremely passionate about whatever strikes her fancy.

(Photo by: Gusty)

It’s a strange occurrence whenever friendships fade, it just sneaks up on you from nowhere, but what do you do?

First, you need to look at the friendship and decide whether you want to be friends or not. Usually when a friendship fades, it’s because one of the friends doesn’t want to be friends anymore. Ask yourself if you’re willing to put forth the effort to mend your broken friendship.

When I asked myself this question after having lost a few of my friends, I realized that all the friendships that I had let fade were because I didn’t want to be friends with them anymore. It sounds harsh, but it’s quite normal; friends constantly come and go. As you get older, you change and you start to discover who you really are, but sometimes your friends don’t grow with you and you drift apart. I had four really great friends who were amazing, but I let them all go. I was convinced it was their doing, and that they weren’t making the effort, but it was really me. Whether I had grown or maybe my standards had changed, I knew deep- down that it was the best decision to move on. How are you supposed to move on, though? Well it’s pretty simple – you make new friends! Easier said than done, right? I’m not saying its easy to build friendships, but you’ve got to at least try. You learn from the mistakes you’ve made in your past friendships, and use them to help you be a better friend this time around.

However, you may decide that the friendship is totally worth saving. In that case, you better try as hard as you can to make it work. You should try to:

1. Talk to your friend about the issue at hand.

2. Figure out how to fix it; whether it be getting together more, calling or texting more, or maybe taking a class together. I took a pottery class with a friend, and we became so much closer. Having the opportunity to learn and challenge yourself with your friend is a really great experience that can bring you together.

3. Take a step back and see what you can do to make the friendship work.

4. See if things change, if they don’t, and you really want to work it out, then try again.

Never compromise yourself for a anyone. If you are changing yourself and your beliefs for them, then they aren’t a good friend. You’re not doing them any good and you’re not doing yourself any good in changing yourself. Stay true to you and that’s what matters.

About Caitlin

My name is Caitlin, or Caity, whatever I feel like at the time I know that life has so much to offer and I hope I get to experience it all! I love languages and I hope that they’ll help me to travel the world. I’m a vegetarian and i’m proud of it… tofu is delicious! I thoroughly enjoy laughing at my own jokes…I’m obsessed with recycling… I love talking about awkward things…and, well, the list goes on…

(Photo by: Mike Baird)

The Bond
by Sarah
I don’t remember how it
Happened or when, but
I’m glad, because it gave
Me the greatest friend.

We’ve been through it
All, but we were always
There to catch the other
If they were to fall.

Life will be life; The clouds
Will darken, the rain will
Fall and the sun will
Shine.

The rainbows will fly, as
Our bond will never die.

Mistakes
by Caitlin
You stood by me when I gave all my Barbies new haircuts,
And when I decided to wash all my Pokemon cards in the tub.
You covered for me when I farted during silent reading,
Or when I decided to cut my own hair.
You comforted me when I got my first fender bender,
Or when I got my first rejection.
You made me feel better when I accidentally shaved off my eyebrows,
And you stood by me when everyone made fun of me for shaving off my eyebrows.
You are constantly there.
I make mistake after mistake.
You help me learn from them.
You help me to laugh at them.
You are a true friend.

(Photo by: by Leslie Alsheimer)

Friendships maintain a constant presence in our lives, from multiple acquaintances to the limited few that can be called a best friend. But how worthwhile is it to have a group of many acquaintances over a few good friends who can actually be trusted? Some, however, choose the life of partying, popularity, and a wide range of contacts in their phones over true friends. Here is a story of a 17-year-old girl named Sasha, as she learned the hard way about the value of quality over quantity of friends.

Sasha entered high school with a concrete clique, composed of the stylish, outgoing, and popular girls. The typical catty leader, who dealt with her own insecurities by backstabbing and manipulating her friends, led the group of girls. Sasha had several good friends outside of the clique, but stereotypical tactics to fit in dominated her freshman and sophomore year. The group of girls would party on the weekends; suffer from their hangovers together, while documenting their experiences and putting the pictures up on Facebook. However, Sasha felt smothered by the pressure to fit in, and lack of true friends she had, her acquaintances were plenty but she never spent time with her best friends. This year, Sasha’s junior year she slowly began separating herself from the clique. It all began when she came home one Friday night to her parents with a Breathalyzer machine, resulting in a month long grounding. Her friends could care less, and Sasha realized she had lost herself in the quest for popularity and social acceptance.

Sasha began hanging out with her friends that had been put on the back burner, going on road trips, hikes, and other things that are her genuine interests and passions. And when, last Friday, Sasha and I decided to go hiking, she told me how now the girls wouldn’t even say hi to her in the halls at school. A reflection of just how limited they were in true friendship.

To keep ourselves healthy, happy, and drama-free we all deserve good friends. A good friend is one who you can be yourself around, one who you don’t have to worry about gossiping behind your back, betraying your trust, or lacking sincerity.  When I was younger and struggling with the inconsistency, drama, and cattiness of cliques, my father would always tell me, “You can have as many acquaintances as you want, but as long as you have one good friend, then that’s all that matters.”

About Maia

Maia is a passionate junior in high school. When she isn’t busy with trying to survive the college application process, she loves spending her afternoons with a good book in a serene and sunny spot hidden by her favorite willow tree. Maia and her friends love to go down to the river in Philadelphia with their canvases and paint for hours. If there is a thunderstorm or torrential downpour, you can find Maia running in absolute bliss. Maia aspires to incorporate travel into her life, study abroad in college, and volunteer for the Peace Corps. She hopes to continue pursuing her passions of writing, reporting, and volunteering. Her dream is to meet her two heroes: Wangari Maathai and Greg Mortenson.