Virtual or In-Person Friends

Data One: Seventh grader, goes to Howard Middle.

Me: Hi! I’ll just ask you a couple of questions that alright?

Data One: Hey! And sure, I’d love too.

Me: How many friends have you made in School?

Data 1: I’m not sure how many but more than two.

Me: How many friends have you made virtually?

Data 1: Two,

Me: Is making friends Virtual hard?

Data 1: I say it’s pretty difficult because you never can really talk to them.

Me: What’s easier about In-School for making friends?

Data 1: You can talk to them, it’s easy to meet them.

Me: This is a general question, Do you prefer in-school or virtual?

Data 1: I prefer in school, but I like virtual school.

Me: Any Advice for kids making friends Virtually?

Data 1: When your in breakout with people try to find out things for them and exchange phone numbers/ emails.

Me: Any Advice for kids making friends in school?

Data 1: If someone is in your classes or projects say hi or something.

Data Two: Eleventh Grader. High Schooler. Goes to Grady Highschool. (Also went to Inman before.)

Me:How many friends have you made in School?

Data 2: Ten or more.

Me: How many friends have you made virtually?

Data 2: 2.

Me: Is making friends Virtual hard?

Data 2: No, because everyone is on the screen. You can talk to anybody.

Me: What’s easier about In-School for making friends?

Data 2: You can see them in person.

Me: This is a general question, Do you prefer in-school or virtual?

Data 2: Virtual.

Me: Any Advice for kids making friends Virtually?

Data 2: Make sure you aren’t talking to a stranger, make sure you talk to someone who is in your age range.

Me: Any Advice for kids making friends in school?

Data 2: Make sure they are real friends. Not everybody is your friend.

Data 3: Tenth grade highschooler, Grady highschool.*

Me: How many friends have you made in School?

Data 3: 0 (Haven’t been in school at Grady yet)

Me: How many friends have you made virtually?

Data 3: 3

Me: Is making friends Virtual hard?

Data 3: Yes

Me: What’s easier about In-School for making friends?

Data 3: You can socialize more, but virtually, you can’t socialize as much during school hours.

Me: This is a general question, Do you prefer in-school or virtual?

Data 3: In-school.

Me: Any Advice for kids making friends Virtually?

Data 3: Talk to people in your clubs and see if y’all have similar interests. If so, you can ask to exchange contact info with them.

Me: Any Advice for kids making friends in school?

Data 3: No answer since I’ve haven’t been to in-school yet.

Data 4: Eleventh Grader. Goes to Grady Highschool.

Me: How many friends have you made in School?

Data 4: i’ve probably made 40 good friends throughout highschool

Me: How many friends have you made virtually?

Data 4:. i’ve made one friend through online school

Me: Is making friends Virtual hard?

Data 4:. i’d definitely say making virtual friends is hard

Me: What’s easier about In-School for making friends?

Data 4:. it’s easier to make friends in school because you can bond over classes and you have the opportunity to see people everyday

Me: This is a general question, Do you prefer in-school or virtual?

Data 4: i prefer in school learning for sure

Me: Any Advice for kids making friends Virtually?

Data 4:. reach out to someone in class and if things don’t work out that’s okay because you also need to focus on the relationships you already have as well

Me: Any Advice for kids making friends in school?

Data 4:. talk to people in your class and don’t be afraid to speak up. It's likely that everyone’s just as nervous or tired as you are and there’s really no need to fret over anything.

Data 5: 8th grader. Goes to Howard Middle.

Me: How many friends have you made in School?

Data 5: I don't understand- can you clarify, like during covid or?

Me: No not virtually before COVID-19

Data 5: ummmm ok since 6th grade i made 12 new friends

Me: How many friends have you made virtually?

Data 5: I haven’t made new friends but I have kept in contact with and safely met up with old friends.

Me: Is making friends Virtual hard?

Data 5: You don’t get to talk to people one-on-one since when you're in class you're learning whereas in person you can move around and talk to people.

Me: What’s easier about In-School for making friends?

Data 5: You can read and understand people and you get the chance to talk to each other.

Me: This is a general question, Do you prefer in-school or virtual?

Data 5: In person but there are good aspects of both.

Me: Any Advice for kids making friends Virtually?

Data 5: Try and get people's phone numbers so you guys can text and get to know each other.

Me: Any Advice for kids making friends in school?

Data 5: Don’t be afraid to talk to people.