For some people, friendships are at the top of their priority list, and for others, that’s nowhere near being a top priority. Other things like school, work, and family might be at the top of the list.
For freshman Eli Hopkins, he has no problem making friends as he considers himself an ‘extrovert.’
“[I] would consider myself to be more on the ‘chalant’ side, and people want to talk to me once they see that I’m a talkative person,” Hopkins said.
A study by the University of Oxford suggests that athletes who play sports with family and friends enjoy the sport more.
“I usually meet new friends on the basketball court as I’ve played almost my whole life.”
For a friendship to work well with Hopkins, he needs to have the opportunity to show himself to his friends, because if he can’t show himself, then he believes there’s no point in being friends with them.
“Being myself lets everyone know who I truly am and shows everybody my true colors,” he said.
One major thing Hopkins relies on in a friendship is humor, and how it has become a necessity in a friendship for him.
“[To me] humor is what I rely on when meeting a new friend.”
Ambivert junior Aliyah Bowman also finds that doing a sport is the easiest way to make friends.
“I usually meet new friends during cheerleading, and being on the same team with people, you just get really close to [over time],” Bowman said.
For a friendship to grow strong, for Bowman, she must be able to trust them. To talk with them about anything she needs, while also knowing that they won’t tell anyone.
“I want to be able to trust my friends with anything, whether it be [something I say or do]. I want to be sure the people I trust aren’t telling other people.”
Over the years, Bowman has learned that you have to put yourself out there and actually be willing to make friends.
“You have to ‘want’ to make friends, like put yourself out there if you want to, but if you already have a circle, then introduce new friends into that circle.”
Bowman considers herself somewhat in the middle, but tends to lean towards being an extrovert since she is on the more talkative side. She thinks that definitely helps her make friends.
“I would say I’m somewhat in the middle, but I lean towards the extrovert [side], and I think that plays a pretty big factor in how I make friends,” said Bowman.
Sociable freshman Joise Fandrem has a relish for talking and meeting new people.
“I like to talk to people really, about anything, and I also consider myself to be extroverted around the right people.”
An easy place for Fandrem to socialize is either school or events that are new to her. Kindness, good communication, and comfort are just a few things on Fandrem’s list of what makes a good friend and/or what she’s looking for in a new friend.
“For me, what makes a friendship strong is having good communication from one to another, and having the ability to be yourself around them.”
Fandrem considers herself more on the extroverted side, but also gives credit to introverted people for how close some of their friendships get.
“I do think whatever side you’re on [extroverted or introverted] does play a factor since I think extroverts more often have a variety of friendships while introverts have not much of a variety, but closer friendships.”
