Make New Friends and Keep the Old: Shen’s Guest Blog

When I started school this year, I had one goal in mind: make tons of new friends. I’d spent the summer at a camp where I didn’t know anyone, and I met so many cool people. Before this I’d done everything with my best friend Kofi, so I’d never really had to meet anyone new because we spent all of our time together. I didn’t know that making new friends is fun! So, on the first day of school, I started my New Friends Plan.

First, I said hi to someone new in each of my classes. Then, I asked them about the best part about their summer. One of my classmates went all the way to Australia with his family, another had tried zip lining for the first time, and someone else had adopted a horse. My classmates are so interesting! Anytime I hit it off with someone, I’d invite them to my house to try my Mom’s famous dumplings. Turns out I really like my classmates, because I hit it off with nearly everyone. I had a new friend over for dumplings almost every weekend!

Weeks passed before I realized that I had barely hung out with Kofi since school started. Was he making new friends too? I missed him, so I found him on the playground and tried to start a monkey bar competition, just like we used to. He wasn’t so into the idea.

“You’ve barely spoken to me since school started!” he said. “I figured you didn’t want to be my friend anymore.”

Of course I wanted to be his friend! I felt bad. My Dad’s old saying “make new friends, but keep the old!” rang out in my head. I’d been doing a great job at making new friends, but a terrible job at keeping up with the old. What if he didn’t want to be my friend anymore? I knew I had to fix this right away.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “You’re my best friend.” Kofi frowned. “I should have included you in my new friend plan,” I said. He still looked a little upset, so I made a plan with him for the weekend right then and there.

“Friday night, you and me, the arcade, just like we always did last year,” I offered. “Deal?”

A smile spread across his face. “Deal!” he said. He hoisted himself up onto the monkey bars and yelled “Bet you can’t get across faster than me!” just like the good old days. Relief washed over me. Good thing he still wanted to be my friend! After Kofi and I spent quality time together, he wanted to get in on my friend-making adventures. Turns out, making new friends with your best friend is even more fun! Now Kofi and I have a whole group of cool people to hang out with, and better yet he and I are closer than ever. So I learned how important it is to make new friends and keep the old. I’d say that operation New Friends was a hit.