Social Skills for High School Students

Making new friends is always a challenge — regardless of whether you’re 6-years-old, 16-years old, or 100-years old. This is why building social confidence in kids early on is so critical. Not only is it important to have a healthy social network for your mental wellbeing, but building and maintaining community is a crucial aspect of having a successful personal and work life. After all, you know what they say: Networking is the cornerstone to any successful career. Or, in other words, it’s all about who you know.

Knowing how to get along with others, collaborate on projects, and introduce yourself to new people are skills you will use your entire life. Whether you’re preparing for a job interview, applying for a business loan, or participating in a study group, knowing how to get along well with others and talk about yourself and your interests, while demonstrating empathy and professionalism are invaluable skillsets. Ones that will take you far — in your personal, academic, and professional relationships. 

In this article, we’ll focus on 5 key social skills for high school students. We’ll also review topics like why social skills matter, common challenges in developing social skills for kids, ways to practice social skills daily, and more. 

Why Social Skills Matter in High School for Kids

Developing social skills is an important process. One that you should focus on throughout the course of your high school career. By participating in class discussions, joining extracurricular activities, and attending social events, not only will you make friends, but you’ll also learn a lot about yourself in the process. 

Overall, there are lots of benefits to developing social skills in high school. Here are just a few:

• Supporting healthy relationships with peers and teachers in and out of the classroom

• Improving collaboration skills in group projects and extracurriculars

• Building confidence in public speaking and communication

• Preparing for networking and professional environments

Common Challenges in Developing Social Skills in School

Being social is supposed to be fun. But it can also be a lot of work. And sometimes, it can end up being more stressful than fun. But why is this exactly? 

To start off, social situations may feel stressful if you’re shy or lack confidence in social settings. While there’s no “quick fix” for feeling too shy, joining extracurricular activities can be a good place to start. That’s because socializing feels less intimidating when you’re surrounded by like-minded people in a structured environment. You’ll have plenty to talk about and you won’t need to worry about what to do — you’ll be participating in the same activities as everyone else!

Next up, an overreliance on digital communication may be hindering your social skills. Even though social media is supposed to be, well, social, it often has the opposite effect. That’s because when you’re busy looking at screens, making eye contact and reading people’s body language and nonverbal communication can feel uncomfortable and intrusive. Again, there’s no easy way to overcome this anxiety. The best you can do is limit your screen time. 

Another common challenge in developing social skills is learning how to handle peer pressure and navigate conflict effectively. Knowing how to react in a social setting doesn’t always mean fitting in and having a good time. Sometimes, developing social skills means having to stand up for yourself or for someone else. Sometimes, the best thing you can do in a social setting is to walk away or say no. 

5 Key Social Skills for High School Students

As previously discussed, there are lots of benefits when it comes to developing social skills for kids. Being social means making friends, gaining confidence, connecting with like-minded people, etc. But how do you go about gaining these benefits? 

In this section we’ll focus on 5 key social skills for high school students​ and how to go about cultivating them:

1. Verbal and Nonverbal Communication

Good communication goes beyond just finding the right words. It’s about how you express yourself and connect with others during interactions with others. Verbal and nonverbal communication work together to help you share ideas clearly, show respect, and build trust. Things like tone of voice, facial expressions, posture, and eye contact all send messages about how you feel and what you mean. To strengthen your communication skills, start by paying attention to how you talk and listen. Then, after you figure out what some of your communication habits are, you can start focusing on building up more strengths and improve your conversation skills. 

2. Active Listening and Empathy

Listening is more than just waiting for your turn to talk. It’s about truly understanding what someone else is saying. Active listening and empathy help you build stronger relationships, avoid misunderstandings, and show others that you care. When you listen with empathy, you’re paying attention to feelings, perspectives, and experiences. This can make a big difference in friendships, group work, and even family interactions.

You can practice active listening by putting away distractions, making eye contact, and giving small signals that show you’re engaged, like nodding or asking follow-up questions. You might also want to try rephrasing what someone says to make sure you understood them correctly during a conversation. 

3. Conflict Resolution and Problem-Solving

Disagreements are a normal part of life, especially in school. After all, high school is the time when you start figuring out who you are and what you care about, so it makes sense that there will be some conflict. Whenever a conflict arises, take a deep breath before responding. Listen to the other person’s point of view and try to stay focused on the issue, rather than placing blame. Look for common ground and be open to compromise. 

4. Collaboration and Teamwork 

Working well with others is one of the most valuable skills you can develop in high school. After all, collaboration teaches you how to share ideas, divide responsibilities, and appreciate different strengths within a group. The key to succeeding in a group setting is to remember to be flexible. Sometimes you’ll need to take the lead and other times you’ll need to listen and adapt. Do your best to be responsible, encourage others, and keep an open mind when people have different opinions. 

5. Confidence in Public Speaking

Speaking in front of others can feel intimidating, but it’s one of the most empowering skills you can develop. Confidence in public speaking helps you express ideas clearly, make a strong impression, and share your thoughts without fear. Whether you’re presenting in front of your classroom, running for student council, or giving a speech at a community event, your ability to communicate with confidence will help you stand out and inspire others.

Ways to Practice Social Skills Daily

Now that we’ve established the importance of developing social skills for high school students, let’s take some time to identify ways to practice social skills daily. There are plenty of options out there, so for now, find one or two that feel manageable to help you get started. Then, after you gain some confidence, you can start finding new ways to step outside of your comfort zone and challenge yourself even further:

1. Participating in clubs, sports, or extracurriculars

2. Engaging in class discussions and group projects

3. Participating in a volunteer program 

4. Practicing active listening with friends and family

5. Challenging yourself to meet new people

Remember, developing social skills takes time and lots of practice. So be patient with yourself. The most important thing is to put in genuine effort.  The rest will come with time. 

How Mentors and Teachers Can Support Social Growth in School

We don’t usually think of classrooms as being particularly social. But there are lots of ways teachers and mentors can help students develop social skills. Even something as simple as assigned seats can be a strategy to help students engage with peers they might not necessarily have a lot in common with. And while yes, sitting next to your best friend might be fun, learning how to interact positively with a wide variety of people is an invaluable skill.

Teachers can also use group projects as a way to encourage teamwork and leadership skills, both of which are important social skills to focus on in high school. After all, learning how to work well with others is a lifelong process. Even when you’re an adult, it can be difficult to know how to best collaborate with others, especially if their ideas, values, and work habits are very different from your own. 

Teachers and mentors can also help foster positive social skills for high school students by modeling positive communication strategies. By demonstrating patience and active listening skills, teachers can show students that healthy communication should be practiced at all ages and in all contexts. In other words, just because they’re teachers, doesn’t mean they have the right to yell or to be rude. Classroom management is often a struggle, but by setting clear boundaries, expectations, and consequences, alongside established routines, teachers can show students that discipline is not necessarily the same thing as punishment.

Building Lifelong Social Confidence

Like most things, building social confidence means practice. So don’t take your social skills for granted. Or worry that you’ll never get better. Being social can take a lot of work. And while it might not always seem like it, it’s important work. This is why attending social events, participating in extracurricular activities, and engaging in small talk are important activities, regardless of your age. 

Being social and building confidence and community talk practice and perseverance. So challenge yourself to try new things and meet new people! You never know what you may learn along the way. 

Conclusion: Grow Your Social Skills with Polygence

Not only do strong social skills lead to an increased sense of confidence and personal growth for kids and teens, but oftentimes, they also lead to academic achievement and career success. This is why it’s important to step outside of your comfort zone by learning how to talk about your interests, ask thoughtful questions, and collaborate with people who are different from you. Not only will these skills make it easier for you to make friends, but they will also help you succeed in college and beyond!

Interested in connecting with like-minded peers on cool research projects for high school students? Polygence offers mentorship and project-based opportunities where students practice communication, collaboration, and leadership — all while learning about subjects as diverse as computer vision, gene editing, and marine conservation. Not only are our programs great ways to bolster your resume and college applications, but they can also lead to lifelong friendships and valuable mentorship opportunities.