Hassan was anxious. Butterflies fluttered in his tummy and his knees felt like jelly as he walked into a classroom full of strangers. Twenty pairs of eyes scanned him from head to toe. He tried to smile at the unfamiliar faces but his face felt frozen with fear.

He searched the class for an empty seat, finally finding one at the far corner of the room. He took off his humungous bag filled with crisp new books and unused stationery, and slumped into the hard wooden chair. He could hear whispers and sniggers of the teenagers around him. Feeling conscious, he fidgeted in his chair and his cheeks burned. “Why did I have to change schools? Why?” he thought to himself. “Is it going to be this bad everyday?

This anxiety, coupled with excitement, is common for those who switch schools. Falling back into the routine of school is hard after a long and lethargic vacation. It is far tougher to adjust in a new school, adapt to a new environment and fresh people. However, one should not be afraid to tackle change and there ‘are’ a few things that one can do to prepare oneself to take on this adjustment.

Talk to your parents

In most cases, children have to switch schools for better academic options or because of a shift in residence, thus the need to go to a new school. Talk to your parents about it, they may be able to motivate you into anticipating what to expect in your new school environ. It would be a very good idea to visit and tour the new school premises and become mentally prepared for the change ahead.

“I spent a lot of time talking to my daughter about her new school. I had to be careful as I wanted to motivate her without presenting too rosy a picture. I wanted to prepare her for any obstacles she might face. All I advised her to do was to be open to change,” says Mrs Zeeshan whose daughter has started class five in a new school nearer to her home.

Be friendly

One of the best things about school is your coterie of friends who you hang around with. Good friends make school a fun place to be. In a new school, what one dreads most is having no friends.

“Making friends was tough for me,” says 13-year-old Mohammed who shifted to a new school when he was in grade seven last year. Being an introvert, his teachers felt that he took a lot of time breaking the ice with his classmates. “I felt very awkward whenever someone spoke to me. I really wanted to sit and joke around with the other boys but I didn’t feel I would fit in,” Mohammed reminisces.

Mohammed soon realised that he had to muster up courage to initiate conversations and get himself included in discussions and activities which the rest of the boys enjoyed. Today, a year later, he feels much more at home in his class.

Twelve-year-old Hamza, on the other hand, didn’t take long to make friends. His easy smile and sense of humour helped him become instantly popular in his new school. His class teacher explained that it was Hamza’s pleasant disposition and adjusting nature that helped him take to his new school like a fish to water.

Smiling and laughing easily, making eye contact and exuding a positive attitude towards life, attract people and is sure to make you well-liked. Remember that making friends is a slow and steady process. Do not expect to find a best friend on day one. Let the process be natural and be patient.

Focus on your academics

Everyone admires a student who scores well in tests and participates actively in class. Teachers are prompt to notice when a new student makes an extra effort to answer questions in class or does his homework diligently. So make sure you are paying attention in class and are not afraid to give voice to your thoughts in class discussions. Not only will your teachers notice you, but you are sure to gain the respect of your new classmates.

When voicing your opinions, do take care not to appear cocky or over confident. Listen to the input of the rest of the class and show respect for everyone’s views even if it may be contrary to your own.

Get involved

Everyone has some special interest, it may be sports, art or even music. Participating in an extracurricular activity is a great way to enjoy school and meet people who have the same interests. “The year I switched schools, my new class put up a play and because I was good at art, I actively participated in painting the backdrop,” says a student of class eight. “My teachers and peers realised I excelled at something and they admired me for it,” she says proudly.

Ask questions

For a new student, the new system can be mind-boggling. There can be lots of new things to adjust to -- the method of teaching or procedure of submitting assignments or finding out the system to use the library or computer lab.

Be bold and do not hesitate to ask questions. You are the new face and it is ‘you’ who will have to quell your hesitation and be ready to ask your teachers and peers to help you clear up your confusion.

Make the first move

Always be ready to initiate a conversation, may it be with a classmate or a teacher. People are bound to notice you if you speak to them pleasantly or show an interest in something which interests them.

“The girl I was seated next to in my new school was obsessed with playing the piano,” said 10 year old Anisa. “I was genuinely interested in her piano lessons and used to ask her about them everyday. We started talking and eventually became close friends and I am now part of her group of friends.”

You might also want to take an initiative in asking a classmate to come to the library with you or come to your home to study together or offer to lend someone your notes. Just remember, not to be pushy.

Make a good impression

Unfair but true, the first impression ‘is’ the last impression. Be ready to show that you are at your new school to work hard and embrace new friendships. If you are labelled as ‘reserved’ or ‘quiet’ or ‘rowdy’ right at the beginning, then the reputation will be hard to shake off.

So quit being the shy, new kid in school who sits alone at lunch time and talks to no one, tell yourself that you are a unique and interesting individual, smile and be unafraid to make the first move. Show enthusiasm for what lies ahead and embrace change with an open mind. Before long, you will fit in, like a hand in a glove.

As songwriter Rosanne Cash says aptly, “The key to change… is to let go of fear.”