Social Switch: Navigating Friendships In and Out of School
Abigail Haugen (8)
I love calling my friends. I honestly think a call is better than hanging out in real life, but one problem I have is when I’m hanging out with one of my friends another friend will try calling me. What should I do?
My absolute best friend, Byron, is a 7th grader, and doesn’t even go to my school. Actually he lives about 2 hours away, closer to Austin. I rarely ever see him, but we do call each other almost every single day.
I have another best friend that actually goes to this school, Gabby. We share 3 classes together, I talk to her literally every single day. Sometimes she calls me, or texts me, but that’s where the problem starts.
Here I am playing games with Byron, laughing, just having fun. When suddenly- I get an incoming call from Gabby.
There are some easy solutions. For example you can tell whoever’s calling that you’re already on a call and call them later. You could invite them to the call and have a group call, or leave the call you’re in (but that’s rude!)
If you’re hanging out in real life, you can step out for a second if they just need to tell you something quick, or tell them you will call them later. You do not want to be that person with a friend over, but you spend all your time with the other friend on your phone.
I usually just text the one trying to call me, “Sorry!! I’m already on a call!!” Then I will call them later, unless I have to go to bed. Then I could call them the next day, or see them at school (if it’s Gabby). Basically just don’t ignore them. Imagine you’re trying to call your friend and they just never respond! You would not want to be friends with them anymore.
I feel like calling is better because if you’re hanging out in real life and a friend comes over when you’re hanging out with your other friend, what are you meant to do? What if they want to hang out, now you either have to hang out with 2 people or tell one of them that you’re already hanging out with someone. Now it’s awkward.
In conclusion, I believe that calling your friends is better than talking to them in person, it’s less awkward than talking to someone face to face. It’s easier to tell someone you’re busy, and you can hang out with friends that live far away from you.