In 8th grade, I had to move and switch to an entirely new school in an entirely new school district where I didn't know a single soul. Like most people would be, I was petrified. I begged my mom to homeschool me and dreaded the day that school started.
Fast forward to the end of 9th grade as it was announced that the 3 high schools in the area will soon become one, so the little 300-person high school that I went to would soon become one big school that is set up like Hogwarts (I wish I was joking) with 2,000 other kids.
When 10th grade started, I was completely separated from all of the friends that I somehow made. The only times I really saw them was on the way to school and on the way home from school. A lot of people in my classes had their own friends and of course had their own friend groups... but I didn't.
I felt completely alone throughout high school. I dreaded lunch because I didn't know people well enough to go sit at their table to eat. I know what you're thinking, "Why don't you just go make friends?"
It's not that simple.
I wasn't and I'm still not an outgoing person. I can't walk up to someone and strike up a conversation and everyone knew that in high school and they used it to their own advantage.
The only times people would talk to me were if they wanted help on homework or just to simply copy everything that I wrote. I never wanted to say no, so I just let them have it. Nobody knew my name and if they did, it'd be pronounced wrong, so there was no use in trying to say it, anyway. The only thing they knew is that I was a "smart" kid who didn't talk to anyone and kept to herself.
And don't get me started on when the teacher would make everyone pair up. That was THE worst thing I could ever hear a teacher say. I had always hoped that a teacher would just assign groups rather than saying, "OK, get in groups of 2-3." It never failed that I was the last person just waiting at my desk to see who was left over. It also never failed that I'd be the person who did all of the work in the project because I was stuck with kids who could care less about being in school.
I didn't have a lot of friends throughout high school or even middle school for that matter, but I survived. I made it through, graduated, and never looked back. High school isn't about making friends. To me, having friends in high school is a bonus. And, let's be honest, most of the time, you don't even talk to anyone you talked to in high school once you graduate.
So, if you were or are anything like I was in high school, know that it'll be OK. Focus on your education, not how many friends you do or don't have.
