For example, you could say, “Hi! I’m John. So, are you starting here, too? I’m going to be in the band. What about you?”

For instance, maybe you want to join the speech club or the art club, or maybe you want to be a part of the marching band or the choir. You’ll find other teens who love art or music, just like you. [3] X Research source If you don’t see a club you like, ask your administrators about starting a club around that interest. Just make sure it’s school-appropriate before asking. You’ll probably need a teacher to sponsor you, as well.

When you see an old friend in the hallway, be sure to say hello. Ask about a time to hang out, or see if you can do homework together to catch up on old times.

Start by saying hello to the people near you in class before the bell rings. You could say, “Hi, I’m Jess. I’m excited about it being the first day of school, but I’m a little nervous, too. What about you?”

For instance, you could say, “Hey, we have math together, right? Do you mind if I sit here?”

The best compliments are specific. For example, rather than saying, “I think you’re smart,” you could say, “It’s amazing how quickly you pick up what Mr. Roberts is saying in math. It’s like you’re a math wizard!”

As an example, you could ask, “So what do you like to do for fun?” or “Do you have a favorite video game?”

That doesn’t mean you need to be friends with people who are mean to you or who bully you. Rather, it means that you shouldn’t try to exclude someone from being your friend just because you think he or she is a little weird.

“Fitting in” often means you have to change yourself to basically go unnoticed in a group. “Belonging” implies the group actively wants you to be there. [12] X Trustworthy Source Michigan State University Extension Extension program of Michigan State University focused on community outreach, education, and engagement Go to source

Meanwhile, keep doing what you love and joining groups that interest you. Keep saying hello to people in your classes.

Another defining aspect of cliques is that it’s the only group members can belong to. In other words, if you were in a clique, you probably wouldn’t be able to have friends in band or art class, for example. That hurts you, since you may be excluding yourself from some great people who could be awesome friends. [15] X Research source