Friends can make school more enjoyable and life less lonely. Healthy friendships are built on respect, honesty and kindness, and they take effort from both sides.
Signs of a healthy friendship
- You can be yourself without fear of being laughed at.
- You can disagree and still respect each other.
- Secrets and private information are kept safe.
- You celebrate each other's successes.
- You feel better, not worse, after spending time together.
Signs to pay attention to
- Constant put-downs disguised as jokes
- Pressure to do things you are not comfortable with
- Being left out on purpose or talked about behind your back
- Feeling afraid to say no
Handling conflict well
- Pause before replying when you are angry.
- Use "I" statements: "I felt hurt when..." rather than "You always..."
- Listen to understand, not only to answer.
- Apologise sincerely when you are wrong.
Making new friends
Join a club, ask someone a genuine question, or invite a classmate to study together. Friendship usually grows from small, repeated moments of kindness.
If a friendship feels unsafe
You are allowed to set boundaries and walk away. If someone is bullying, threatening or pressuring you, tell a trusted adult. You do not have to handle it alone.