Getting involved is the key to creating new friendships

Friends are the center of not only teens’ lives but every one’s life. Without friends, we are nothing. They are there when we need to talk, they put us back in our place if we are getting too cocky, and they will stand by our side even in the worst of times. These are just a few qualities that make a good friend.
I have been lucky enough through the years to meet some great friends who have helped me through some rough times. But here’s the catch, they all live over an hour away. I get asked repeatedly “How did you meet these people that live so far away?” The answer is simple, I get involved.
Getting involved is one of the best ways to make lifelong friends. Whether it be joining a club at school, a sorority or fraternity in college, or going on a youth retreat with your church amongst many other ways to meet people, you will meet someone there and have a chance to make a new friend. Through these things you will meet people that have similar interests as you and get closer over time.
This last weekend I was at a youth retreat with my church at Mo-Ranch in Hunt, Texas right above Kerrville with my youth group. Attending as well was approximately 30-40 other youth groups from north Austin all the way down to the tip of the valley. Even though I went with 4 other girls from my church plus our sponsor, I never really hung out with them because I was with friends that I had just met. Already after only a few days, the people I met are some of the closest people to me in my life and we all miss each other so much.
Another way to make friends is to work on projects that involve other people that your interested in. Chances are you will meet someone who shares many of the same interests you do.
When making new friends, always try to have an open mind and a positive attitude and you’d be surprised how far it gets you. Also to keep you friendships stay in touch! Get their e-mail, number, find out if they have Texting, or a Facebook page. In order to have a friend, you have to be a friend.
This goes for conferences, club meetings, and anything else. It’s amazing the friendships that can be made after only a few minutes of talking to someone. I know for me, the best friendships I have started with just saying “Hi!”