At a new school, somebody has to say hi first. Usually the people who do end up with the most friends.

Everybody in a new room is waiting for somebody else to start, which is why rooms stay quiet when they are full of people who all want to talk. Going first costs a few seconds of exposure and solves the problem for both of you. The people who end up with a lot of friends are rarely the most charming ones; they are the ones who speak first and do it often.

Say something to two people this week before they say anything to you. It can be as dull as a question about the room or the homework. Count the attempts rather than how they went.