Home-schooled...and social?

I'm in high school and I need some help. I used to go to public school, and I loved it! But, last year I had to come home.


The home-schooled kids are pretty cool, but I miss the social aspect of public school. How do I cope with being less social? Can you help? Thanks!


Hey girl,

I can only imagine how difficult it is for you to go from seeing your friends every day at school to maybe seeing them once or twice on weekends. People are social by nature and when you don’t get social interaction with friends, it can actually leave you feeling depressed  and sad. But, of course, there are ways of coping with these feelings and learning that being home-schooled can be just as much fun as going to public school!


Re-connect

Lost touch with friends you used to see every day at school? Just 'cause you’ve transferred doesn’t mean you have to stop hanging with your buds. Give them a call or send them a text to let them know you're thinking about them, then schedule a time when you can all hang out. You’ll find that just talking to your friends a few times a week can help you feel more happy and social.


Join a community program

I bet if you look on your community’s website or in your local library, you can find tons of events going on right in your own neighborhood. These are a great way of meeting and talking to new people. Interested in gymnastics? Take a class at the local YMCA. Wanna learn how to make pottery? I bet your community’s rec center has lessons. The good thing is you can pick and choose what you want to do and are guaranteed to meet people with similar interests.


Learn to love yourself

Sometimes I wish I had more alone time because being a social butterfly can get super-stressful. When you feel alone or sad because there’s no one to hang with, find an activity that you enjoy. Whether it’s turning on your iPod and taking a long, scenic walk, or watching cheesy chick-flicks, or playing your fave video game, find something that makes you feel happy, and you won’t feel so down in the dumps.


Remember, being alone isn’t always a negative thing and can actually help you learn more about yourself, which will help you when you socialize. So get out there and join a club to meet new people.


Xoxo,
Liz

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POSTED IN ,

11/19/2009 7:00:00 AM
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