Difficulty: Explorer (Level 1)
Unfortunately, friendships sometimes end. It seems like your friend is starting to find new people to spend time with. It’s not a bad thing to have different friends as long as they are not leaving you behind without a good reason.
Joining a popular group can seem very attractive. However, it is not “cool” to ignore or reject people just because they don’t fit in. Luckily, there are many other students at school. Try to spend time with them. You will surely find someone who shares your interests. You can join clubs, sports teams or after-school activities.
Take a moment to think about what made the friendship work and what might have been missing. This isn’t about blaming anyone. It’s about learning what you truly value in a friend. Ask yourself a few questions. Did I feel heard and supported? Did we share common goals or just common activities? What qualities do I want in my friends?
Focus on the people who value you for who you are and build a stronger, more authentic social circle. True friendships are about quality, not quantity.
This response has been vetted by Cherrie Chung, a counsellor, MA at Insight Counselling.
