THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 2, 1994 TAG: 9409010071
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: TRACI & DORAN
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
DEAR TRACI AND DORAN,
How can I learn to fit in with other people? I've always had a hard time making friends, but I have no problem making enemies. I am 16, and I go to Princess Anne. - Lonely
Dear Lonely,
It's natural that some people are better at making friends than others. Life can be a lot harder for those who have problems making friends and communicating with the rest of the world. The best way to overcome your problem is to force yourself to be more sociable.
First, ask yourself why you have such a hard time making friends. Is it because you don't make an effort to go out and meet people or introduce yourself to others? Have your peers made some sort of judgment about you that might not be true? If the latter is the case, then make it known that you aren't ``stuck up'' or an unpleasant person to be around. Your peers will never know the truth if you don't make them aware of it.
There is probably no better place to make friends than at school. When you start school this fall, go in with the attitude and goal that you are going to be more sociable and meet some new people this year. Do not, by any means, go in dreading having to be around a bunch of people you don't know. Instead, consider it an opportunity to make some friends. (There are more than 1,000 students at your school; no doubt there is someone you can relate to!)
Get involved in school. Join sports teams or clubs - as long as you find them intriguing. In these extracurricular groups, you will find people with the same general interests as you. Plus the smaller groups and more relaxed setting might make it easier to make some friends.
Above all else, remember to be sociable, willing to introduce yourself and learn not to be afraid to strike up a conversation. It can be as easy as saying ``hello.'' MEMO: Traci Hill is a 1994 graduate of First Colonial High now at Appalacian
State University and Doran Ricks is 1994 graduate of Southampton High
School now at the University of Virginia. This is their final advice
column. In next Friday's Teenology, we introduce two new advice
columnists. by CNB