Dear Lisa,

Being a new student can be really tough, especially if you’re a teen. As you know, teens often develop a very close relationship with their friends and it can be very traumatic to relocate and lose that invaluable peer support network. The challenge of making friends at a new school, where many students are already locked-in to various cliques and groups, can be very intimidating and seem almost impossible. All this at a developmental time when friends are everything!

The fact that you’ve already met two nice girls is impressive and sounds like a good start. Part of the reason that you feel like a loner tagging around with them, is that they’ve had more time to establish their relationship and it will take time for you to develop a closer relationship with each of them as well. While it’s great that you’ve made these friends, don’t let it stop you from continuing to reach out to others and continue to build your friendships at your new school. The more people you meet and talk to, the greater the chances of recreating a close social group like you enjoyed in the past. Consider looking into school clubs and sport teams, which are also great ways of meeting people. You can also seek out community activities, like after school art classes, religious youth groups, and other opportunities that will allow you to meet new people and make new friends. And remember that while it can very frustrating and challenging, it takes time to recreate a strong supportive peer network, and that you’re off to a good start!