By Reman, MaST Healthy Panther Post | My experience with making a new friend was a delightful one. It was the start of the seventh-grade school year when a girl simply complimented me. We then started talking and connecting more and, before we knew it, we became friends. To stay connected with friends, I try to make them feel important and seen. My advice to others is to simply uplift someone you would like to be friends with. Give them a nice compliment and make them feel good about themselves. To stay connected with them make them feel like they matter.