Hello everyone, I live in Sydney and have graduated last year from High School.
However, I had to take time off from well… everything (for personal & health reasons).
I have now found myself completely lost in many ways, and I’d like to start life again! Firstly, I’d like to make friends, as I currently have no one to talk to other than my parents and I am extremely lonely. However, I don’t know how to.
Any suggestions would be extremely appreciated!
^this or join a club.
Sports or special interest (like a Chess Club or Book Club), it doesn't matter, provided you have interest in what the group does.
Of course there are no strangers here;
only friends you haven't yet met.
Besides you don't need many friends, just the right ones.
It's quite tough to make friends if you haven't grown up with them via family friends, school, Uni etc. Ask anyone that moved here from abroad as an adult…
Your primary avenue will be through work, you'll inevitably build some relationships over time. You may go out for lunches or drinks or social events with a group and filter out a couple people to do more activities.
Next up would be hobbies. Whether it's sports like joining a local tennis club or D&D/Warhammer gaming (Good Games or Games Paradise has calendar rosters), off-road driving clubs or marathan/swimming training groups or cycling/hike groups or woodworking or cooking/painting/pottery classes or music lessons etc. You'll meet like minded people there.
Meetup.com is a decent resource to start off with. Browse categories for what interests you and just join a group. Over time, friends circle grows and grows.
Another avenue is gaming, particularly if you're into competitive gaming or group based MMOs etc. You can join clans/squads/guilds and have a social scene build up that you interact with daily. Alternatively just a few friends to play games with online on occasion. Maybe not the same as having local people to go out with but works for many people.
Sydney has a Blender group if you're into 3D modelling & animation etc. They occasionally plan meetups in person too.
There's a few different Discord groups for many of the above and more you can join and slowly introduce yourself and build up contacts.
It's definitely not easy and takes some effort but don't despair. It's not just you and will get better over time.
Due to the terrible situations I’ve had for the past 2-3 years, I really lack many strong hobbies, but I still really appreciate the reply and wanted to thank you. I have no one else to really ask about this so every suggestion means the world to me! Thanks!
No worries, these things take time. You don't decide on a hobby overnight. Even if you did, you'll lose interest and change over to something else many times over throughout your life. No biggie.
Maybe attend a Good Games event https://www.goodgames.com.au/events/ and just watch other people play a variety of tabletop and board games. There'll be tables of different types of games going on, see if anything piques your interest and decide you want to give something a go. Or maybe none do and it's not really for you at all. Then you can cross it off the list and move on to something else.
Another option is maybe volunteering. Either at homeless support groups like https://www.will2live.org.au/become-a-volunteer/ or down at the Foodbank https://www.foodbank.org.au/support-us/volunteer-with-us/?st…
If that's not quite it, then try signing up to the SES! https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/volunteer/ There's tons of different roles to consider across hundreds of units. There'll be training provided and you'll be part of a team. This could range from being a local first responder to fire & rescue to weather support to sitting tracking and watching boats to ensure people return to shore safely etc.
Enjoy Motorsport? Maybe signup as a volunteer marshall with https://motorsport.org.au. They provide tons of training, both online and in-person, and will invite you out to support teams at local race circuilts, Bathurst and even Melbourne F1! These kind of activities will build up some friends and groups you can interact with & look forward to.
If you are a bloke maybe look at the Men’s Shed groups.
He sounds like he's in his late teens; most blokes at the Men's Shed are old farts (retired types). One I went to with family recently to make something even has days for women (but they're older too).
So they might be speaking a different language, but they might give useful advice and have kids his age or older.
The one in Melbourne CBD takes women so I’m thinking about wandering along. The advantage of hanging out with old farts, of both sexes, is you learn that shit happens and you move on. Early in my career in IT we did morning teas and I listened to the old war stories. It taught me that time, and a sense of humour, gives you perspective on most things.
Bikies club?
Make small talk with everyone you come across. eg about the weather. eg Its getting a bit warmer now, thank goodness. They will remember you next time
That’s the problem - I don’t really come across anyone that I can talk to…
Go volunteering at RSPCA shelters. You're bound to meet and talk with someone when you're walking the dogs, during meet & greet with adopters, and there's also proven health benefits from interacting with pets & animals.
eg about the weather. eg Its getting a bit warmer now, thank goodness.
What's with so many OzB'ers feeling the cold? It's been the warmest winter in eons
Bumble!
It's not only used for dates - it has a friends mode too
If you find some hobbies try groups in fb, that's what I did :)
Also, check your PMs when you have a chance :)
Just be careful with bumble for friends.
I've heard way too many cases of people being attempted to be roped into MLM schemes through this.
Can you start with your neighbours?
Why would you suggest this?
Have you not read the posts here where neighbours are at war with each other …… like, so often that you fear if one of them has Oppenheimer as a surname 'cause that is how WW3 would start & deffo surprise Putin.
Exactly because of that. You should befriend your neighbours before bad things happen. But doesn't mean that friends can't become enemies overnight.
Most of my neighbours are not the friendliest of types…
Who needs friends when you have bargains
Money can’t buy everything unfortunately…
Hello everyone, I live in Sydney and have graduated last year from High School.
Are you going to or at university?
However, I had to take time off from well… everything (for personal & health reasons).
A gap year I would presume
Yep, more or less. Had to delay going to uni due to these reasons. Am still not sure when/if I’ll be starting Uni.
If you go to university, go and socialise your arse off. Get involved - uni clubs, performances, etc.
It'll be the easiest time in your life to ever meet people.
1) Find groups on meetup for htings like hiking, socialising or whatever activity you want
2) Reach out to old high school friends
3) Join a Sydney group that hosts regular events like this one:
https://discord.gg/EAwxxTg3zK
4) If you might be interested in board games you can join one of their groups for regular weekly events. There's one in Club Parramatta, Castle Hill RSL, Chatswood RSL and many more.
I agree with https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/
Seemed pretty friendly when I was going to events on it many years ago.
Easiest way is to find a team sport you enjoy and join a club. The way to make friends is consistent meet ups. This is easiest done at school and university but the next best bet are things like social clubs.
Where might I find those? Any particular website?
Agree. I found the players at the local tennis centre were all out of towners with lots of interesting backgrounds.
All of the suggestions from everyone are good starting points but they miss one key thing.
Small talk is fine, but that isn't a friendship.
Friendships take time and are based on a shared history together.
I take my dog to a dog park several times a week and have a bunch of people I'm on a first name basis with, we joke around, chat etc, but they aren't my "friends".
Going from acquaintance to friend is a big thing and best I can say is to cast a wide net. Do a lot of things. You may fail 9/10 times but you just need that 1/10.
If you're a Christian or interested, find a good local church. PM if you need help finding one nearby you.
Anyone can enrol in an Alpha course. Even just go along to the first class and ask whatever questions you want.
for personal & health reasons
Since you're a young guy, you might not appreciate this, but here goes.
Join a community garden - e.g. a biggish one that I occasionally visit is $55 p.a. The members plant edible things. They are mainly older women, but take that opportunity to learn and chat with them. Also, you'll be outdoors in the sunshine, doing some physical work. It will get you outside and help with your health. Join a gardening/food swap group online.
You'll make acquaintances, and who knows, one of these or their introductions could end up being friends.
When I was establishing my edible garden I visited many community gardens, groups, discussed with people, swapped seeds/seedlings/plants/produce with people. I could have gotten to know these people well and some still think of me when they have something to offer, but I do this much less nowadays because 1. I have a thriving edible garden 2. I have young kids who occupy a lot of my time 3. I have added/deepened some more hobbies.
Since you're a young guy …..
How'd you know?
Graduated from HS last year?
I currently have no one to talk to other than my parents
Centenarian parents are very rare/unlikely.
Find your passions in life.
I'm in Sydney I met so many people through MTB clubs, video games, motorsport and trading car parts.
Since you're fresh out of high school, perhaps social cycling club? Met a lot of cool people that way when I was your age, all you need a bare bones MTB. Will help you with your physical health too.
I don’t really bike, but I love walking? Is that a viable option? Are there any walking groups for younger people in Sydney? I had some trouble finding those
If you don't wanna do anything physical, have you thought of streaming yourself over Tiktok/YT etc
Just doing an AMA kind of things
But don’t AMAs usually get asked by people who have some specialty/title? I’m not sure what to do to set me apart…
Studying can be a good way to meet people. Sometimes they don't want to meet you, but you'll be in the same room as them at least.
as I mentioned in the post, I’m not currently studying due to personal & health reasons….
What are some good discords?
Are you suggesting or asking me? Because I don’t have any but I’d love to get some if you’ve got any
There are some active Facebook social groups where you can find events and even put up a post to say that you are looking to make friends.
Volunteer?