Finishing school online without friends
A high school student completing her school online misses seeing teens at school
QUESTION
Hi,
I actually came across this blog when looking for new ways to find friends. I’ve gone to the same school from first grade to the end of my sophomore year. Going into junior year, I moved to a different area. I was excited to have the opportunity to make new friends but I realized that it was harder then I thought.
I asked my mom if I could finish school online and that’s what I’ve been doing. I’m now at a complete roadblock as to how to meet friends. All I do nowadays is stay home all day. My mom is worried that its unhealthy to stay home so much and I desperately want someone to talk to besides my mother.
Please help me out!
Signed, Holly
ANSWER
Dear Holly,
I can only imagine how hard moving to a new area would be during the middle of high school.
I’ve always thought of school as having two purposes–academics and socialization. Because you’re doing school online, you’re missing the very important second component: companionship, social activities, and sharing experiences with peers.
Have you thought about going back to traditional school to meet some friends? It won’t be the same as going to a school with classmates you’ve known your whole life, but you’ll get practice meeting new and different people and develop skills that you’ll bring with you to college and beyond. At school you can join clubs and/or sports as a way to encounter people with similar interests. You might have to go through some uncomfortable first days and weeks meeting other kids, but after a while you’ll become more confident.
Another way you can meet potential friends and acquaintances is through a part time job or volunteering. If you attend church, there may be a youth group with social opportunities. Often times home-schooled students are able to participate in extracurricular activities with their neighborhood school districts, too.
I hope these ideas help.
Signed, *Amy Feld
*Amy Feld, PhD, MSW has trained and worked as a child psychologist.
Disclaimer: Nothing in this or any other post is intended to substitute for medical, psychiatric or clinical diagnosis/treatment. Rather, all posts are written as the type of advice that one friend might give to another.
Category: Teen friendships
My friend’s teenage daughters, who are graduating from high school this spring, were able to start taking college-level classes at the local community college during their last two years of high school. It was via an arrangement the high school had with the college, so that the college credits counted toward fulfilling high school requirements as well as college degree requirements. The girls will be graduating high school with associate’s degrees.
I realize that situation was possible because of the school’s arrangement with the local college, but maybe you can look into taking a few college courses anyway. It will get you looking toward your future, and you’re likely to meet a more diverse, mature group of people on a college campus than in high school. I’m not saying you’ll be doomed to befriending only adults, but if you’re more mature than others your age, you may find you’re emotionally and intellectually ready to be part of a collegiate environment.