Walking into your first period where you don’t know a soul can sometimes feel like navigating the Amazon blindfolded. You’re quiet, cautious and just trying to survive the period until the bell. In contrast, your second period awaits you with the bright faces of the friends you’ve made in the past semester, ready to catch up and learn.
“I feel a sense of comfort, and I feel more excited to go to class in [a] that period [with friends],” said freshman Amelia Edwards.
That excitement felt while amongst friends often fuels better collaboration. While some teachers may fear that talkative friend groups can lead to distractions, the reality may be the opposite outcome: friends can be a built-in study group.
This boost in motivation can be a key factor in student engagement. Beyond just getting students into their seats, these friendships provide a safety net for when the curriculum can become too tough or overwhelming.
“Having a friend in my class is always helpful because I know that I can rely on that person to give me pointers if I’m struggling on a specific topic,” said Edwards.
This student-to-student support system can even benefit the classroom as a whole. When students feel comfortable enough to ask questions or consult a friend for help, this creates an environment of collaborative learning within the classroom rather than one of silent confusion.
“I know that they [my friend in class] will be able to get the work done with me and not slack off,” said freshman Malia Curtis. “If my friends are not doing the work, I’ll try to get them back on track.”
When friends hold each other accountable and set high standards for one another, the classroom can be a place of mutual growth. Rather than pulling away from the lesson by distracting each other, the right social circle can act as a second set of eyes on a deadline or difficult project.
Ultimately, having friends in our classes can be a great tool for learning, but with great power comes great responsibility. So next time you find yourself and your friends drifting away from an assignment, try and reel yourselves in to truly connect and collaborate without becoming a disturbance for the rest of the class.
