LIFE

A new school year can be an exciting time, filled with meeting new people, joining new clubs or finally getting to eat at a cooler lunch spot, but it can also be a difficult time as friends come and go from your life unexpectedly. 

It happens: you both were really close last year, and then, summer rolls around. You text occasionally. You Snapchat every once and awhile, but on the first day of school you both find yourself sitting at opposite sides of the classroom. If you and your BFF have drifted apart, don't stress too much. Here are some tips on how to cope with the sudden loss of a friend.

Don’t blame yourself.
Like I said, sometimes, friendships fade naturally, but we still have a tendency to ask ourselves, "What did I do wrong? How could I have prevented this?" In most cases, though, there is nothing you can do or could have done to stop this falling out from occurring.  

Reach out to her.
If you are tired of worrying or stressing over the situation, take some initiatve. Text, call, or better yet, approach her in the hall (that way she can't ignore you). Try talking to her calmly and ask her what is going on. Maybe there is a reason for this change. If she still not receptive, it’s best to leave her alone and realize that if she were a good friend she would never treat you this way in the first place. 

So, if she doesn't want to talk? What do you do now?

Branch out.
Talk to your parents or counselor if you are feeling depressed or overwhelmed by the situation. Then, focus on fostering relationships with your other friends or try to make new friends. With or without her, you can still have a great school year.

Have you ever been in this situation? Let us know how you handled it in the comments below!

by Frannie Rooney | 9/14/2017