PSYCHOTROPIC

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BY ANGELICA LOUISE PFLEIDER
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PICTURE this: you are hanging out with your close friend drinking milk tea, when your friend mentions that someone she met at dance crew is going to join you.

You say, “Oh that’s great” but inside you start getting nervous. What if it gets awkward? What if I get left out? What if that person doesn’t like me?

Mutual friends or “friends of friends” are people you meet all the time. Sometimes though, getting close to these people is hard especially when they bond and share private jokes with the friend you have in common. Through all my years, I have many met many mutual friends and I can say getting close to them is the wisest decision you can make. Here are some tips I have come up with to help you get close to your friend’s friends.

The first is to be friendly. When you meet for the first time, don’t shrink away like a dementors facing a patronus. Smile at them and talk to them. The simplest question such as asking their name and other details about them opens a door for you to share a connection.

Also, when you are walking along the street and you see those persons, don’t be afraid to say hello. Even if the friend you have in common is not there, the fact that you made an effort to say hi will reassure them that you acknowledge their existence.

The second tip is to hang out with them. Don’t shy away from their company. If you friend invites you to go malling, to eat out, to tambay or even to have a few drinks, don’t turn down the offer even if you know the new person will be there. It will be a chance for you to develop a bond and even make a few private jokes yourself.

You must also be open-minded when you are around them. Every person is different and they may have some characteristics you don’t exactly approve of. You could be Potterhead while that person is a Twihard; you could like K-pop while that person won’t bother listening to it; you could be more of a quiet introvert while that person could be a loud extrovert. The important thing is to keep your mind open and respect this new friend. You never know, your contrasting personalities may be what will make your friendship stronger.

My last tip is to be yourself. Yes, cliché as this may be but this is the best thing you could do. Being comfortable with yourself will make you comfortable around others, and if your new friend will see that, he or she will find you more interesting. Besides, the fact that that person clicked with your friend means you guys could click, too.

So when that new friend arrives and sits beside you, be friendly and greet him or her with a smile./PN
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