Let’s say you’re fourteen and your parents have decided to move. You’re in a completely new town with a new school and don’t know anyone there.

I’m going to teach from my own experience how to adapt to a new school. I’ve been to twelve different schools in four different states; with every new school I’ve been to, I got more and more experience on how to adapt to a new school. I’ve been to so many schools that I’m at the point where I have gotten used to it and don’t have much to think about, and you can too!

When you go to a new school, you are introduced to many teachers.  No matter what, always be nice. Make eye contact and smile. You may not like the teacher you have or they might be difficult, but you want to make a good impression. You certainly don’t want to start at a new school off on the wrong foot.

Now with students, it’s similar to teachers except you spend more time with them and you work with them directly. Smiling is very important because it opens up the line of communication when someone smiles at you and you smile back. It’s a message that shows you’re not shy or afraid to make conversation with someone. However, you don’t want to be closed off or not show interest. Keep in mind your body language: remember to smile, avoid slouching, and don’t look down at the ground. I know it may be a bit awkward to try and talk to someone new, but what I usually do is make small talk with someone I sit by and gradually add more until you work your way up to a full conversation. Next thing you know, these strangers will become your friends.

Typically, you’ll end up disliking people, which is fine because not everyone in the world is going to get along. That doesn’t mean you should be rude to others or leave them out of something that will just create a lot of problems. Even if someone is being rude to you, let an adult know and keep your distance from them.

Finally, and most importantly, you should never change your personality just to fit in. Just be yourself! People will like you for who you are. You should be proud of what makes you special. In a few weeks, you will adapt to your new school and make friends. A few weeks may seem like a long time, but you will enjoy yourself at your new school in no time. After a while, you won’t even notice that you will become an integral part of the school community!