Making friends...

[megajon]

I moved to Fort Lauderdale from London about 6 months ago and I've gone to school for a while now and I just cannot seem to make friends. I mean, I can chat to people but I never end up hanging out with anyone.

I sit on my own at lunch and the mornings and just read and listen to music I fucking hate it. I know there is people in the world in situations a lot worse than mine and that I'm just a middle class suburban kid with a good life but I've seriously considered taking my own life a few times.

The thing I hate about my high school compared to London is all the cliches seem to hang out together instead of it not really mattering what you listened to and what you dress like so I end up not really fitting into their little social circles here.

Before I left London my girlfriend of 3 years broke up with me (cause I was moving) and ever since that happened I've lacked confidence.

I've gone to shows on my own and stuff to try and make friends with like minded people but nothing has really come out of it. All I want is a friend or two who like to do kinda the same things as me or even a girlfriend. My mums suggested youth clubs but I've never been the type of guy to become friends with people that are into going to those sorts of things.

What would everyone suggest? and thank you for listening.

[terror_91]

Sports teams. That's an easy way to make friends. Try playing football (soccer) if it is offered. If not, try something new. If you play an instrument, join the school band or something. Try the clubs that your school offers (there must be something that you vaguely like the look of and if you don't then suck it up and do it for the new friends).

Stop thinking about killing yourself, it's the easy way out.

What year are you in? If there is not a lot of school left then it will be alright. I dropped down a year in school and while I get along with everyone in my new year, I don't hang around with them outside of school. I spend my time doing work and playing computer games. It is a bit sad but it will be worth it when I get into the uni I want to, for the course that I want to do.

[megajon]

Sports teams. That's an easy way to make friends. Try playing football (soccer) if it is offered. If not, try something new. If you play an instrument, join the school band or something. Try the clubs that your school offers (there must be something that you vaguely like the look of and if you don't then suck it up and do it for the new friends).

Stop thinking about killing yourself, it's the easy way out.

What year are you in? If there is not a lot of school left then it will be alright. I dropped down a year in school and while I get along with everyone in my new year, I don't hang around with them outside of school. I spend my time doing work and playing computer games. It is a bit sad but it will be worth it when I get into the uni I want to, for the course that I want to do.

Yeah I'm thinking about joining some sort of club.


And 11th grade.

Work and computer games = the story of my life.

[terror_91]

Is 12th grade the final year? I can never quite work out the american schooling system.

Don't think about it. Do it. Sometimes you just have to do something that will seem completely awkward and shitty but it will be worth it in the end.

I've currently got a friday night of L4D2 lined up and whatever homework I feel like doing haha. FML.

[megajon]

Yeah 12th grade is final year before uni/college. haha Modern warfare 2 for me.

[Urglegrew]

get a boom box and put it on your shoulder, then walk down the halls blasting brokencyde, and they will come to you

[DanTGD]

Dude you're fucking british! talk to some girls and put on the heavy accent and they'll be all over you.

Your accent is the key.

[sleepyseanzzz]

i played football, wrestled, and lacrosse in high school and made some great friends doing so. when i got to college i never drank or partied and found it tough to make friends as my high school girlfriend dumped me right before college. it took me a semester but i finally joined the wrestling club and made a lot of great friends, also going to the gym and working out every day, you meet a lot of good people there. i understand youre in high school but its not too early to spend an hour a day at the gym if you dont play a sport.

if you work to get yourself better every day then people will notice my friend

[phil19]

Dude you're fucking british! talk to some girls and put on the heavy accent and they'll be all over you.

Your accent is the key.

ladies do love an accent

[Chancetobe]

I'd think the fact that your from London is more than enough to at least make people curious about you. Like, when I was in London, people were interested in me because I was American. So your in is just talking about England, comparing cultural differences, ect.

[Formatfun]

Moving sucks man. I know what it feels like to sit alone everyday, feeling like an outcast, and knowing nobody. You'll survive through it. Eventually you'll make friends.
EDIT: Oh you mean hang out with type friends... I can't help you there. Sorry. (I specialize in acquaintances.)

[bladerdude360]

Agreed on the accent. Plus, it sounds like you've spent enough time by yourself to buy up some mystique. Use it to your advantage. They will flock to you. Prepare yourself.

[deFobbed14yrs]

def agree on the accent!! just talk and chill with ppl and they'll invite you out

[ace1112]

get a boom box and put it on your shoulder, then walk down the halls blasting brokencyde, and they will come to you
ROFLMAO

[kaycey]

+1

[megajon]

get a boom box and put it on your shoulder, then walk down the halls blasting brokencyde, and they will come to you

Sadly enough that would actually work. And thanks for the advice, means a lot. I guess I'll try playing the accent card.

[the1]

Just put yourself out there. Because rejection would be better than sitting alone knowing you're not trying, right?

[Sic Transit Zeb]

Sadly enough that would actually work. And thanks for the advice, means a lot. I guess I'll try playing the accent card.

Yeah man, just be you. Try to find some common grounds and talk about it. Just be up front and tell people you're new to American culture(even if you're not, I mean UK can't be that much different) and let them talk. Ask questions, make some jokes and just be nice. I've moved a lot in my life, 5-6 times, and I've found to just go talk to people. If you're bored sitting by yourself, go up to some people and ask them if you can sit with them because you'd rather talk to someone than be alone. Talk about England but don't let that be your only talking point. People will get bored with just hearing about England.

What i'm really getting at is just talk. Go out and make stuff happen and don't wait for it to happen to you. People will be nice and some people might be rude but fuck those people. Carpe diem man!

[TotalCollapse]

Basically restating what other people said...
Join clubs, sports teams, band, etc and you'll meet plenty of people.

[tommyishere]

youll dominate with the accent
and yeah clubs and sports do you great

[himynameiszack]

Make a list of what's holding you back and another separate list of what the benefits of putting yourself out there would be. If the positives out way the negatives, you know what to do.

[cc55]

Dude you're fucking british! talk to some girls and put on the heavy accent and they'll be all over you.

Your accent is the key.

yeah, seriously dude, girls can't resist that accent.

and i have the same problem, i suck at making friends, but i'm in college.

[argg_xo]

Dude you're fucking british! talk to some girls and put on the heavy accent and they'll be all over you.

Your accent is the key.

ladies do love an accent
They speak the truth.

[UnderMyDreams]

Dude don't really worry about it, high school's brutal... I know from experience. Go to shows, talk to people, join a club at your school. Talk to people in your classes find common interests. Just get yourself out there in some way... Don't kill yourself, high school isn't the end of the world. It gets better after that...

[Truman122]

Is 12th grade the final year? I can never quite work out the american schooling system.

Don't think about it. Do it. Sometimes you just have to do something that will seem completely awkward and shitty but it will be worth it in the end.

I've currently got a friday night of L4D2 lined up and whatever homework I feel like doing haha. FML.

Yeah 12th grade is final year before uni/college. haha Modern warfare 2 for me.

So, uh...







...Steam IDs?

EDIT: Right, on topic. Definitley go with sports teams. Easiest way to make friend. My suggestion would be track, if you suck at other sports.

[charmained]

aww, you seem like a really nice guy. ive always been able to make friends at shows. i just talk to people when im waiting in line. good luck dude!

[Brand-new-123]

http://selfhelprevolution.files.wordpress. com/2009/02/how_to_win_friends_and_influence_pe ople.jpg

[Knatuhlee]

get a boom box and put it on your shoulder, then walk down the halls blasting brokencyde, and they will come to you

and own the line "I walk into the club looking kind of sexy now" ... women will flock.

[concernedparent]

To be honest, I think your accent can help win friends. Use it as a weapon.

[Deadbolt23]

Just put yourself out there. Because rejection would be better than sitting alone knowing you're not trying, right?

You know nothing.

[the1]

You know nothing.

I'm sorry, but who the fuck are you?

[Deadbolt23]

I'm sorry, but who the fuck are you?

Haha, just sayin bro. That is not how it works at all when you're lonely.

[the1]

Haha, just sayin bro. That is not how it works at all when you're lonely.

Ahh okay. No- I know that it's nowhere near that simple. But unless you push through that initial barrier, it's gonna be hard.

Look at it this way, OP: If you haven't done anything to fuck up and make a bad impression, chances are that no one thinks lowly of you- so you are probably held in higher esteem than you think.

[LoginBanned]

I moved to Fort Lauderdale from London about 6 months ago and I've gone to school for a while now and I just cannot seem to make friends. I mean, I can chat to people but I never end up hanging out with anyone.

I sit on my own at lunch and the mornings and just read and listen to music I fucking hate it. I know there is people in the world in situations a lot worse than mine and that I'm just a middle class suburban kid with a good life but I've seriously considered taking my own life a few times.

The thing I hate about my high school compared to London is all the cliches seem to hang out together instead of it not really mattering what you listened to and what you dress like so I end up not really fitting into their little social circles here.

Before I left London my girlfriend of 3 years broke up with me (cause I was moving) and ever since that happened I've lacked confidence.

I've gone to shows on my own and stuff to try and make friends with like minded people but nothing has really come out of it. All I want is a friend or two who like to do kinda the same things as me or even a girlfriend. My mums suggested youth clubs but I've never been the type of guy to become friends with people that are into going to those sorts of things.

What would everyone suggest? and thank you for listening.

To be honest man just wait high school out. By 11th grade everyone is stuck in their own little world. Go to college after graduation making friends there will be 1000% easier. 6 years out of high school and I don't even talk to anyone I was friends with back then. You'll make much better friends in college than you ever will in High School you just have to tough it out.

[saveferris]

get a boom box and put it on your shoulder, then walk down the halls blasting brokencyde, and they will come to you
hahahaha

[ReignofFiction]

Dude you're fucking british! talk to some girls and put on the heavy accent and they'll be all over you.

Your accent is the key.

This.

[DanTGD]

Sadly enough that would actually work. And thanks for the advice, means a lot. I guess I'll try playing the accent card.

It worked for me when I was in America for three months, I don't see why it wouldn't work for you, you're from London too so our accent must be similar, I'd understand if it was Liverpudlian or something but hell, London / Posh Essex accents are the way to any American / Canadian / Australian's pants.

[al.is.on]

my british brother! I noticed your 17. must suck knowing come your 18th birthday you wont be able to legally drink like you can back on British shoes, as for your problem about meeting people, just talk to people. I hear what your saying about people being in their own little clicks too, dont get wound up in one of them, talk to everyone, be your own click, show them yanks how we do it! aha and let me know how it goes, I have faith in you!

[Fullblast]

Find people at your school with similiar intrests, trust me. I had trouble moving to a new high school but very soon I had friends that I could easily relate to.

[rosielikesyou]

This happens in any new environmental situation (new high school, moving to another city, going to college, etc.) and I've experienced it several times. It really does suck, and I hated being told "things will get better so just wait" by people. The best advice I could give is to actually try to put yourself out there, even if you feel vulnerable doing it; strike up a conversation with someone in class, look around to find people with similar band shirts, join a club. Even if it feel awkward and embarrassing, it's really no worse than sitting by yourself and will probably warrant some attention from others. Once you click with a couple people, you'll feel that much better, believe me.

[maxvsmaradona]

Dude you're fucking british! talk to some girls and put on the heavy accent and they'll be all over you.

Your accent is the key.

this x100

[Kassie09]

i suck at making friends. seriously, i never make any new ones, no one likes me. it is hard to make friends when you're older.

[AlkalineAshes]

i suck at making friends. seriously, i never make any new ones, no one likes me. it is hard to make friends when you're older.
i recently realized i never learned how to make friends, and even tho ive had alot growin up they usually always approached me, and ya when ur older it sux even worse

[cuzimlefthanded]

youll dominate with the accent
and yeah clubs and sports do you great

Definitely utilize the Brit. accent. Will totally attract people towards you. Also, join the soccer team but refer to the sport as "Futbol".

[terror_91]

Definitely utilize the Brit. accent. Will totally attract people towards you. Also, join the soccer team but refer to the sport as "Futbol".
He's british, not mexican :-|

[zion the lion]

I moved to Fort Lauderdale from London about 6 months ago and I've gone to school for a while now and I just cannot seem to make friends. I mean, I can chat to people but I never end up hanging out with anyone.

I sit on my own at lunch and the mornings and just read and listen to music I fucking hate it. I know there is people in the world in situations a lot worse than mine and that I'm just a middle class suburban kid with a good life but I've seriously considered taking my own life a few times.

The thing I hate about my high school compared to London is all the cliches seem to hang out together instead of it not really mattering what you listened to and what you dress like so I end up not really fitting into their little social circles here.

Before I left London my girlfriend of 3 years broke up with me (cause I was moving) and ever since that happened I've lacked confidence.

I've gone to shows on my own and stuff to try and make friends with like minded people but nothing has really come out of it. All I want is a friend or two who like to do kinda the same things as me or even a girlfriend. My mums suggested youth clubs but I've never been the type of guy to become friends with people that are into going to those sorts of things.

What would everyone suggest? and thank you for listening.

Because you havent made any friends?

[cuzimlefthanded]

He's british, not mexican :-|

Fine. FOOTBALL. hahaa

[kana900]

I moved to South Florida from NY about 3 years ago.Same country but still a totally different world.It's always hard making new friends, and my school was full of snobby rich kids and also very clicky.I was never really a sport/club person so that didn't help.But it sucks sitting home by yourself.So I got a job and met people there.I think your place of work is a great and easy way to make new friends.Talking to people at shows is pretty good too, because right off the bat you know you have at least one thing in common.And college is so much better than high school, you just have to endure those last few years.

O and like everyone said, girls love British accents.So sexy.

[xerickx24]

just keep trying i actually live in coral springs florida and moved to dallas i havent met anyone either but i'm coming back in feburary to coral springs because making friends is much easier over there than here. Especially at shows i kind of say hey cool shirt or oh you listen to this band and take it from there keep trying sir .