With the school year coming to an end, it’s almost time for goodbyes. New people will be coming to our school and some of us Jaguars are leaving. For most teenagers, making new friends isn’t always easy. Whether it be to go to a new school or to be introduced to others coming into yours, it’s going to be awkward to meet new people.

I personally have moved around a lot in my life and ’ve had a good amount of experience trying to fit in. I’ve lived in many cities in Texas including Fort Worth, Crowley, Grand prairie, Arlington, Benbrook, Two houses in Midlothian, and soon to be Aledo. I’ve also lived in Neptune Beach and Jacksonville, Florida. Going to the different places wasn’t always easy, especially when we moved in the middle of the school year. Going to the new schools, I met a lot of different types of people, but I was also scared to get close to people because I knew that it wouldn’t last more than a year or so. Then, I realized that just because I was always moving doesn’t mean I couldn’t have a good time while I was there.

No matter how much I moved, and will probably end up moving, I saw that it’s best to just focus on school and try to make good grades no matter where i am or how permanent it is. Also, I tried to overcome being shy and started being more outgoing and saw that I had more in common with people than any of us knew.

If I’ve learned one thing it’s that the best way to “fit in” to a new place or school with new people is to be yourself. When you be yourself, you’ll fit in where you should. You’ll fit in where you will find people who like the same things as you, have the same sense of humor as you, and simply people who will enjoy being around you just as much as you enjoy being around them. You don’t have to try so hard to be someone you’re not just because you think that’s what other people want you to be for you to be their friend. Someone who is going to be a kind, loyal friend to you will like you for who you are, so just be yourself.

Don’t stress it too much, you’ll start meeting new people and making new friends before too long. Don’t give up and don’t start to alter who you are even if you think it’s taking too long. You are the way you are for a reason and believe it or not, there are other people like you. You’ll find them, just give it time.