Now at Barnes and Nobles, Borders and Amazon!

Check out our NEW Babysitter's Certificate E-Learning Class! Start your own business!

Want to make money? Get ahead of the competition!

Our Class Offers

• The latest e-learning
technologies and
practices.

• Online when you are --24/7, for girls around the world. No waiting.

• Fun quizzes along the way to check your knowledge.

Click here for details

Got a question about the tuff stuff in life you'd like another girl to answer? Click here to send your question in to "Tuff Talk!" You just might get your question published in our next "Talking About Growing Up" book!

Are you the next "Dear Abby?" Are you the person everyone goes to for advice? Click here to become one of our columnists for "Tuff Talk!" You just might get your answer published in our next "Talking About Growing Up" book!

This column was posted on 9/8/2003. Check back next week to see another "Tuff Talk!" question and answer. It could be yours!

How Am I Going To Make New Friends?

I've been going to a prep school all my life and next year I'm going into high school. I really don't want to go to the same high school, I want to go to a public one... but I'm scared that I won't make any friends. What do I do? - Kelley, 14, USA

"Hey, Kelley!" Let me just let you know that first of all, I know exactly how you feel. I have moved around so many times that I'm always having to go to a new school where I don't know anyone. So it's totally understandable that you're scared 'cause I was too.

Honestly, I think that you should just think over your decision carefully before you decide to do anything. Campare the two schools together to find out what you'll be missing out on if you choose one or the other. Find out how important it is for you to have what one or the other school has to offer you, and ask youself is it really worth it to go to a public school or stay at a prep school.

When you realize what you want and what you can handle, then the choice will be easy. Just make sure you know what the consequences of each decision will be. But don't let the fear of not making friends stop you because high school can be tough, but its also a lot of fun.

Just think of it this way: When you first started at your old school, you didnt know anyone but everything turned out fine. So don't worry because remeber, it'll be the first time at a new school for everybody in your class so there's really nothing to worry about.

I hope this helps your figure out how to solve your problem. Good Luck!

Ryma, 15, Florida