“I’m going to middle school and I’m worried I won’t see any of my old friends. What do I do if I don’t see anyone I know at lunch? I don’t want to end up having to sit alone on the first day.”
I’ve totally been in your shoes on the first day and I know how hard it is not to stress about feeling as if you are the only person left sitting alone at lunch. You have two choices: you could make the choice to psyche yourself out and sit by yourself. Or, you could be brave, walk up to a group of girls who look like they would be nice to you, and say, “Hey, mind if I sit with your group today? I don’t think any of my friends have this lunch period.” Sounds scary, right? Trust me, if you get a burst of bravery and ask, you may surprise yourself! This very thing has happened to me and I am here to tell you that it’s not as scary as you may think. Ask somebody who appears to be welcoming and kind and who tends to sit with a smaller group of friends. Even the popular groups worry whether their friends have the same lunch period as they do, so know that you are not the only one feeling this way.
Know that everybody feels afraid of being alone at some point, particularly when it has to do with lunch at school. If you have a positive attitude, you will learn something new, have time to relax and eat your lunch, and you could meet other people. To make your experience less intimidating, try doing some preparation ahead of time, and throughout one of your classes before lunch, ask a peer to have lunch with you. I promise this will be a great way to make your day a little more fun!
If you think about it, lunch is the shortest period of the day, so before you get all stressed out about who you are going to sit with, focus on getting your lunch. If your school is anything like mine, the lines will probably be really long. While standing in line, you might see someone you could sit with, leaving no need for any more stress. My tip: Get your lunch first, then quickly scan the tables, find that small group, and ask if you can sit with them. I think you’ll find that they are going to say yes! Another one of my tips for making more friends is to take part in more school activities.
The first days of middle school can be overwhelming for everyone, but in time you’ll find yourself creating new memories with new friends and things will seem confortable before you know it, I promise. Just remember to always be yourself, be positive, and be kind to others. Other positive and friendly people will notice this and gravitate towards you. Good luck, and have fun!
