My Experience Changing Schools and Some Helpful Tips

Everyone has different experiences when changing schools and it can either be amazing or the worst thing that’s happened to you during your academic journey. For me, it was the latter. The whole process is gruesome, from being introduced in front of the whole class to people glancing at you every few seconds. I mean, could you stand out even more?

Throughout my nine years of education, I have been to three different elementary schools and two high schools. Most of the switching was because I moved, and the elementary schools I was attending weren’t close to my new houses anymore. During kindergarten and grade one, I attended a French immersion school. But my parents did not want me to be left behind with my English, so they transferred me to an English elementary school where there were lots more Chinese students and I fit in perfectly.

As I was finishing grade four, we moved again. Moving to a different school this time was one of the most difficult things ever. I had to leave the amazing friendships and strong bonds that I established and become “the new girl” again. This was my third elementary school, and I had even more trouble making friends. This time it was because COVID had just hit, which turned grade five into online classes.

But things took a turn and grade seven was the most memorable year of my elementary school years. I made friends that strongly impacted my life and some I still talk to now.

In grade eight, I thought I would attend my catchment school where all my friends were going, but my parents encouraged me to transfer to a high school with the International Baccalaureate (IB) program instead. And there it was. Again, I would hear the words “your new classmate,” “the new girl,” and “please give her a warm welcome.” I was devastated and thought I would never survive. I had to adjust to the linear school system which was another obstacle. Everyone had already gotten to know each other and had formed their social circles. This made me ponder whether or not to approach people and what I would even say if I did end up initiating a conversation.

As I slowly inched my way through grade eight and made it to the ninth grade, I’ve learned some valuable tips that I wish I had known when transferring schools all those times.

Stay off your phone

I know it’s extremely tempting to spend all your free time scrolling through social media, but this is one of the most common mistakes people make, and one that I made too. Your phone may be your only means of escape because you’re so desperate not to look awkward. Even if you are just opening the weather app or texting yourself on Teams, people will assume you’re busy and hesitate to approach you.

You may also have an angry resting face and that could be one of the other factors that give people second thoughts. Instead, stay off your phone and be observant of your surroundings. Try to keep a neutral expression and give off a relaxed, open body language. It may seem silly, but you will look more approachable, someone will definitely talk to you.

Get involved at school

This could be intimidating at first, but find a club that does something you love and sign up. Joining a club has many benefits, one of them being meeting people who enjoy the same things you do and are interested in the same activities. Getting involved at school also makes a good impression on the teachers who are sponsors of the clubs. Even though you aren’t in their class now, you could be in their class in the future.

Of course, there’s no need to go overboard and join clubs you have zero interest in however, now is the time to explore new areas and dive deeper into the things you already love. I, for one, never thought I would want to join Model UN (a club where you debate topics related to real-life global issues). But I’m attending conferences, making friends, improving my public speaking skills, and even staffing for the upcoming conference. Even if you don’t want to talk to anyone, join these clubs so you have something to look forward to.

Familiarize yourself with your school

I can’t even begin to explain how important this step is. If you’re anything like me, you’ll understand how awful it feels being late. An easy way to fix this is to start by having a map of the school with you and highlighting your classrooms. In addition, take a picture of your schedule or always have a copy on you until you have memorized your classes and their locations. This will make getting to class much easier and save you the extra stress when adjusting to your new environment.

Make acquaintances and establish friendships

This is an enormous factor that will paint what your future social life will look like. Make sure to keep an open mind when it comes to both people approaching you and your decision to approach someone. The easiest way to make friends is by finding a “lunch buddy.” This could be anyone, from the person you sit beside in class to someone from the hallways.

I promise you, finding someone to sit with during lunch will help with your loneliness. Not only that, but you may also find that you get along with an individual in that person’s friend group.

Acquaintances can be extremely helpful, especially if you miss a day of class or you need a partner for a project. The main point is to make connections.

From my own experience, I abide by the quote “don’t judge a book by its cover,” which only applies when I haven’t talked to the person yet. I believe first impressions are everything and therefore I allow myself to judge someone off it. A disclaimer, this may not be everyone’s cup of tea and I’m definitely not saying you should judge people. Even though this may be a little harsh, I find this weeds out the people I know I won’t form stable and beneficial relationships with.

This is my list of tips that I found benefited me the most. As soon as you familiarize yourself with your new surroundings, everything else will naturally fall into place. However, getting involved with your school and building connections will both take some time, so start with keeping your phone away. Patience is key here. I wish people who are struggling with changing schools the best of luck.