When you step into the large building filled with unfamiliar faces, you feel a rush of anxiety and your breakfast sits uneasily in your stomach. You walk down the hall to your first period class. You open the door to find everyone else has already found their seats and are busily chatting up their neighbors. Everyone turns their heads toward the door and watch you as you meander towards the teacher’s desk. The teacher, finally looking up, greets you and fails to pronounce your name correctly. He gives a generic introduction to the class (still pronouncing your name wrong) as you stand their awkwardly.

The bell rings and releases you from your first class to drag you to your second. All day, the same awkward smiles, failed attempts to join conversations, and mispronunciation of your name-you would like nothing better than to crawl into a ball on you bed. Finally, with the end of fourth period comes the dreadful lunch. What would they serve you? More importantly, where will you sit?

I know what it feels like to be new. I have moved to twelve different schools in my twelve years of high school; that means I moved every school year, and sometimes twice a year. At first, because I was so young, I didn’t really have a problem with moving around. By the third grade, I was throwing fits about wanting to stay with my friends. I’ve lost a million best friends that pinky-promised to keep in touch. We were, after all, too young to use the internet, cell phone, or come visit each other. After moving to another country in the middle of sixth grade, I officially became a master of making new friends and avoiding awkward conversations.

AFirst, when I needed help or was lost, I asked someone for help instead of standing there looking like a lost duckling. Doing so, I would be able to thank them again later on and spark up a conversation. In class, I would ask whoever is sitting next to me questions about the teacher. “Is he always this boring?” Such questions usually broached teacher gossip and endless stories about how boring the teacher actually is. At lunch, go up to someone who had graciously helped you with directions before if you could sit with him. He will probably introduce you to all his friends, and even if you are unable to carry good relationships, you could pass all of lunch having short five minute conversations with everyone at the table.

Let people know you’re around and that you have the same interests they do. Laugh out loud at jokes, smile when you meet someone’s eyes and keep your head up. Nothing screams ‘ I’m a insecure little new kid’ like the sight of a drooped head.

It will be hard at first, it is much easier said than done, trust me I know. You won’t be the ‘new kid’ forever and once you start getting used to the school and the kids, you will laugh at how scared you had been. Later, when those unfamiliar faces in the hall become your closest friends, you will be thankful for having made those first steps as soon as you did.