Making friends at online school can be a challenge. However, with a few strategies and a bit of effort, you can build meaningful connections and enjoy a fulfilling social life, even in a virtual classroom. By initiating conversations, bolstering social skills, and working to maintain relationships, you’ll be able to make real friendships with your online classmates.
10 Strategies for Making Friends As A Virtual Student
The shift to online learning has changed the way we interact with classmates and teachers. While the convenience and flexibility of online school are significant benefits, many students miss the in-person social interactions and social events that traditional schools offer.
However, making friends online is not only possible but can be just as rewarding as the friendships students make face-to-face at traditional schools. With a few helpful strategies and some practice, online school students can make friendships that can move outside online classes and into real life.
1. Set the Right Mindset
Before you start making new friends, it’s important to have the right mindset. Be open to meeting new people and making connections, even if it feels a bit awkward at first. Remember, everyone else is in the same boat and might be looking for friends just like you.
Be Positive and Open
Approaching new interactions with a positive attitude can make a big difference. Smile (yes, even through a screen), be friendly and show genuine interest in getting to know others. Turn on your camera so you’re able to see your other classmates.
Be Patient
Building friendships takes time. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t make a best friend right away. Be patient and keep trying.
2. Utilize Online Tools and Platforms
Online schools often provide various tools and platforms that can help facilitate interaction among students. Make the most of these resources.
Discussion Boards and Forums
Most online courses have discussion boards or forums where students can post questions, share insights, and discuss topics related to the course. Participate actively in these discussions. Share your thoughts, ask questions, and respond to others’ posts.
Group Projects
Group projects are a great way to connect with classmates. Be proactive in these settings by suggesting ideas, offering help, and being a reliable group member. This can lead to natural conversations and the start of friendships.
Social Media and Messaging Apps
Many online schools have official social media pages or groups on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Discord, or WhatsApp. Join these groups and participate in conversations. It’s a less formal way to get to know your classmates and stay connected.
3. Initiate Conversations
Starting a conversation with someone you don’t know can be intimidating, but it’s an essential part of making friends in an online school.
- Introduce Yourself: A simple introduction can go a long way. In discussion boards or group chats, start by saying something like, “Hi, I’m [Your Name]. I’m looking forward to working with everyone!”
- Ask Open-Ended Questions: Open-ended questions encourage more detailed responses and can lead to engaging conversations. Instead of asking, “Do you like this class?” try “What do you think about the project we’re working on?”
- Share Your Interests: Letting people know what you’re interested in can help you find common ground. Mention hobbies, favorite books, movies, or anything else you’re passionate about.
- Compliment and Encourage: A kind word can break the ice and make someone feel appreciated. Compliments are a surefire way to put people at ease while they’re talking to you. Don’t be scared to tell people what you liked about their online comments, their hairstyle or clothes, or anything else you notice positively about them.
4. Be an Active Participant
Being passive when you’re an online student will make it tough to foster friendships. Actively participating in your classes and the other activities your teacher plans is what will open the door to talking with your classmates outside of school-related activities. Treat online discussions, classes, and other events put on by your school as an opportunity to practice your social skills and begin getting to know potential friends.
Attend Live Sessions
If your school offers live classes or webinars, attend them regularly. Participate by asking questions and contributing to discussions. This not only helps you learn but also makes you more visible to your peers.
Join Clubs and Extracurricular Activities
Many online schools offer virtual clubs and extracurricular activities. Joining these can provide opportunities to meet people with similar interests. At Mountain Heights Academy, we ensure a holistic learning experience through a diverse range of clubs. Whether you're interested in the Art Club, Fit Club, History Club, or Photography Club, we have something for everyone to explore and enjoy.
5. Build and Maintain Connections
Once you’ve started conversations and met new people, it’s important to build and maintain those connections.
Follow Up
After an initial conversation, follow up with a message or email. Refer back to something you talked about to show that you were paying attention. For example, “Hey [Name], I enjoyed our chat about [Topic]. Have you had any more thoughts on it?”
Suggest Virtual Meetups
Propose virtual meetups for study sessions or casual hangouts. Platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, or even online gaming can be great ways to spend time together outside of class. Once you know students who have common interests, you can plan virtual hangouts that interest all of you.
If you’ve discovered some of your classmates share your interest in video games, plan an online game night where you all play a game you like. If you’ve found out that other students share your interest in reading, start a virtual book club where you choose a book to read each month and discuss the chapters you’ve read every week. These online hangouts will lead to more opportunities to foster friendships both online and in person.
Be Supportive
Offer help and support to your classmates. Whether it’s studying together for an exam or offering a listening ear, being there for others can strengthen your friendships.
Everyone has different comfort levels, especially in an online setting. Respect personal boundaries and give people space if they need it.
6. Overcome Common Challenges
Making friends online comes with its own set of challenges. Here’s how to overcome some of the common ones.
Dealing with Shyness
Social anxiety can be a huge barrier to making friends online, but know that you’re not alone! It’s estimated that about 13% of Americans struggle with it- and you might be surprised about how many of your classmates are dealing with the same thing.
If you’re shy or dealing with some symptoms of social anxiety, start small. Engage in written communication first, like discussion boards or emails, before moving to live chats or video calls. Practice makes perfect, and the more you put yourself out there, the easier it will become.
Handling Miscommunication
Without face-to-face cues, online communication can sometimes lead to misunderstandings. This is completely normal! If you think there has been some kind of miscommunication with one of your online friends, always offer clarification. If you have a conflict with an online friend, it may be best to work it out over the phone or through video call to limit misunderstandings as much as possible.
Staying Motivated
Maintaining friendships requires effort. Set reminders to check in with friends regularly and plan activities to stay connected. Continuous effort will allow you to turn acquaintances into true friendships. Keep making the effort, and you’ll be able to make meaningful relationships with your online classmates.
7. Leveraging Social Media and Networking Sites
In addition to school-specific platforms, general social media and networking sites can help you make and maintain friendships.
- LinkedIn: LinkedIn isn’t just for professional networking. Join groups related to your field of study and participate in discussions. You might meet classmates or others with similar academic interests.
- Facebook Groups: Many schools have unofficial Facebook groups where students can connect. Join these groups and participate in conversations.
- Instagram and Twitter: Follow classmates and engage with their posts. Comment, like, and share content to build connections outside of the classroom.
- Study and Interest-Based Platforms: Join platforms like Quizlet, where students share study materials. Engaging in these communities can lead to new friendships.
8. Creating a Virtual Study Group
Study groups are an excellent way to make friends while also enhancing your learning experience.
- Organize a Group: Take the initiative to form a study group. Post in your class discussion board or send out a message to your classmates suggesting a study group.
- Set a Regular Schedule: Consistency is key. Set a regular time for your study group to meet. This helps build a routine and ensures regular interaction.
- Use Collaborative Tools: Use tools like Google Docs, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams to collaborate. Share notes, discuss topics, and prepare for exams together.
- Make It Fun: Keep the study sessions engaging by incorporating fun elements like quizzes, games, or study breaks with casual conversation.
9. Being Mindful of Online Etiquette
Good online etiquette can make your interactions more pleasant and effective. When you communicate online, the people you’re talking to aren’t able to hear your tone of voice or read your body language. This makes it extra important to
Be Respectful and Polite
Treat everyone with respect and kindness. Being kind and respectful when you're talking with your classmates in online study groups and discussion boards will help them know that you’re friendly and make them feel at ease interacting with you online.
Use Proper Grammar and Spelling
Communicating can be a struggle when it’s done online through text and other messaging systems. With this in mind, try your best to use good grammar and spelling. You don’t have to be perfect and beat yourself up if you spell something wrong or forget a comma, but just give it your best effort.
Be Mindful of Sarcasm and Friendly Teasing
When you can’t see someone’s body language or listen to their tone of voice, it can be difficult to understand when someone is being sarcastic or trying to make a friendly teasing comment. Until you can meet your online friends in real life, it might be best to avoid these things as they might come across as being mean. When making friends in an online program, it’s better safe than sorry.
10. Balancing Online Friendships with Offline Life
While making friends online is important as an online student, balancing these relationships with your offline life is crucial.
Set Boundaries
Communicating boundaries with your online friends is important for balancing your time online with time doing offline activities. Let them know when you’ll be offline for sports, clubs, and hanging out with family and friends. It can also be helpful to let them know when you turn off electronics for the night as well.
Make Time for Offline Activities
Engage in offline activities and spend time with family and friends. A healthy balance between online and offline interactions is essential for overall well-being. Prioritizing in-person after-school activities will help you make friends outside of online school.
Take Time Away From Screens
Taking care of your mental and physical health is crucial. Having enough time away from screens is an important way to practice self-care as an online learner. Spending too much time looking at screens every day has been shown to increase mental health issues in teenagers, so be mindful of setting boundaries for offline time.
Enroll At Mountain Heights Academy- Utah's Top Online Public School
Offering grades K-12, Mountain Heights Academy is an online public school in Utah that provides each student with an individualized, high-quality education. Mountain Heights Academy offers an alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar public schools where students can thrive. Read more about our story, team, and policies to see if Mountain Heights is a good fit, and enroll today for the 2024-2025 school year.