Source
r/makemychoice•
ausername41

Should I go to a new school?

Wassup reddit,

I'm 16 and just finished year 11 in the UK (12th grade, I think?). I have the option to stay at my current school with my current friends, teachers, building etc. Or, make a huge leap of faith and go to another school where I know essentially no one. I'm not hugely happy with my current friends and think it would be good to make new ones but would it really be that easy if ¾ of the people there have already been there for 5 years so have already formed close friendship groups? I can't decide because I can't tell the future, so, someone decide for me!

I have to officially decide tomorrow at 12, this will massively affect the next 2 years of my life and I'm so fucking scared.

Edit: Thanks so much guys! I had exam results day today and it made me realise how distant I was from my friends these days, I felt alone for the first time at a school I had had so many good times at. That era of my life is now over, here's to the next. :)

Posted Aug 19, 2015, 3:57 PM UTC · edited

148
key14•

If you really wanna make new friends, go to the new school. Everybody wants to be friends with the new kid, you'll be fine.

14
ausername41OP•

I hope so

2
Shizo211•

I'd always go to a new school, but that's just me. Having a fresh start is always nice. You can still maintain friendships with your old friends and make new ones.

Whether you make friends or not is all a matter of your personality. Sometimes new people have it easier because everyone is curious. But even if it gets worse you won't be there as long because 2 years are nothing.

On the other side you seem pretty satisfied with your current school so I'm not sure why you even consider it.

3
ausername41OP•

I'm satisfied with my current school because it's comfortable. I know everyone, all the teachers etc. But, I've changed a lot in high school so far but I think people's perceptions of me haven't. I'm still thought of as the quiet introverted kid who talks to the weird kids.

I'm feeling like I'm naturally moving away from my friends and feel as if it would be impossible to make new friends in my current school with the image they have of me. I feel like I just need a new set of friends more than anything and think this is the best way to do that. I could choose the easy and comfortable option but I don't think I want to...

2
_Ubiquitous•

This was literally me yesterday mate! For me I badly wanted a change in my life so I decided to go to a different school. Other factors people warned me about is level of teaching. Remember A levels is a lot of independant working too. Is the other school a 6th form or college? If college then expect everyone to be as nervous as you so don't worry about making friends. Also I tried to talk to as many people as I could about the decision, the next best person that knows you are your close mates. I actually ended up bumping into one of my old teachers and having a convo. Don't be scared mate and good luck tomorrow!

2
ausername41OP•

Haha I might try and have a chat with one of my teachers tomorrow actually. My friends are pretty mixed, some think it's a stupid idea as everyone will have their friendship groups formed already (it's a sixth form so not everyone's new). But some of my friends I think really wish they went as well because they think they need a fresh start.

It's not really the academic side I care about, both schools are pretty similar grade wise but the social side is making me really want to move and think I'll just get sick of two more years in my current situation. Mind you, having to find people I can actually be friends with and have something in common with will be a pain. But I'll probably risk it. Good luck tomorrow man!

1
_Ubiquitous•

Main reason I'm moving is I don't want to spend 7 years with the people at my school. I know enough about everyone where its just gonna drag on any convos to be had unless its football or something haha. This is a massive jump for both of us I hope it works out :)

1
PhantasmalCat•

I live in the US and changed schools 3 times in high school, which consists of 4 years. I first moved after my second year and was bummed becuase I had made some fantastic friends with whom I became very close with. It wasn't all bad though because at my new school I got incredibly lucky and met some people I have become very close with, so everything seemed alright. I unexpectedly moved schools again in my last year and it had a terrible impact my final year of school. By that time, it becomes even harder to find friends and I didn't really want to hang out with the people I knew outside of school. I was, however, able to see my friends from my old school occasionally, but not having them as classmates was particularly sour. If you have friends you think you'll talk to even throughout college and life, I think you should stay. If not, then it's worth considering but be wary if this is your last year.

2