Amal Al-Sibai Saudi Gazette Starting school again after a long, lazy, and relaxing summer vacation can really give you the blues. But for other kids, their worries about school are more serious. Some kids fear the first week of school not simply because they hate homework and tests, but for other reasons. Fifth grader Dima Othman said, “I am so nervous on the night before school that I have trouble falling asleep and I get a terrible stomachache. I lie awake in bed all night, wondering: What if I don't make friends? What if the other girls laugh at my hair? What should I do if no one wants to talk to me? Will I eat lunch alone?” Dima is a smart girl, a great swimmer, but one thing that stands in the way of making new friends is her shyness. Some kids are just friendly by nature; they can freely and comfortably talk to new students, teachers, and even the principal! On the other side, it is hard for shy kids to talk to people and make friends. Whether you have changed schools, moved to a new city, or are just shy by nature, below are several useful pointers that can help you feel more confident, make new friends, and effortlessly sail through the first few weeks of school. If you find it difficult to strike up a conversation with someone you've never met before, practice these good conversation openers at home with your family members. These questions can get fellow students talking, make them interested in you, and help break the tension in the classroom. Examples are: Do you have any pets? What is your favorite subject? What is your least favorite subject? What sports do you play? What is your favorite TV show? What do you like to do for fun?Make eye contact when talking to another person. Making eye contact gives the impression that you are a confident person, that you are truly listening to the speaker, and that you respect him/her. With a little practice, you can develop this good habit. Smile. Nobody wants to be around someone who is gloomy, sad, and frowning. A smile will attract other kids simply because it is human nature to want to be around others who are positive and happy. Train yourself in these basic skills that will definitely help you make and keep friends in any social situation and not just at school. Say “Asalamu Alaikum” when you walk into the classroom in the morning. Answer a question with a sentence or a short explanation and not just a single word. Do not interrupt your friend when he/she is speaking to you and show that you are listening and that you care. Finding your own strengths and being more confident will help you form unbreakable friendships. Every day repeat to yourself positive things about yourself; you have to accept and like yourself in order for other kids to like you. Once you have pin-pointed your strengths and what makes you unique, build on them to improve the image you have of yourself and your relationships with others. If you are a whiz at math, help your friends with tricky math problems. If you are an artist, draw your best friend a pretty picture. If you love playing chess, start your own chess club at school to find friends who share your hobby. Treat others how you want yourself to be treated. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” Never make the mistake of laughing at the kid who wears thick eyeglasses or braces and do not call the overweight kid mean names, even if everyone else is doing it. It is not cool and it is not the way to make true friends.Sometimes it is the simple and kind acts you do that will draw a kid to you who may end up being your best friend for years. Smile, offer a compliment, open the door for someone whose hands are full, offer to let your friend get ahead of you in line at the cafeteria, pick up a pencil when it falls off someone's desk, and when you realize that your friend is upset or disturbed, ask, “Is anything wrong?”Have a sense of humor. You do not have to turn into the class clown but everyone likes the kid who knows how to cheer them up when they are having a bad day. Try these funny school jokes to give your friends a laugh. Q. Why did the boy eat his homework? A. Because the teacher said it was a piece of cake. Q. What is a math teacher's favorite dessert? A. Pi! Q. Why did the jellybean go to school? A. To become a smartie! Q. Why did the student bring scissors to class? A. He wanted to cut class! Q. Why did the new boy steal a chair from the classroom? A. Because the teacher told him to take a seat. Q. Why did the students study in the airplane? A. Because they wanted higher grades.
