By Gideon Abadilla, Youth Development Specialist
Making social connections as an adolescent can seem difficult, awkward, and even frustrating. At this age, young people are still discovering who they are and may worry about making a bad impression on others. Add that to the reality of growing up in a digital age, where smartphones and social media have been a constant presence throughout their lives, and navigating relationships can become even more complicated.
How Social Media Can Affect Teen Friendships
Social media can create a unique set of challenges. Influencers and content creators often present an idealized version of their lives, while simultaneously sharing carefully curated imperfections to create a sense of relatability. With constant exposure to this content, young people may develop parasocial relationships with their favorite creators, become more comfortable interacting online than in person, or develop dissatisfaction with aspects of their own lives. There is even a growing culture around appearing “nonchalant,” where showing too much interest or vulnerability can feel socially risky. With all of these factors at play, it is understandable that some young people may struggle to form and maintain meaningful connections in their daily lives.
How Pathways Summer Academy Helps Teens Build Connections
With these challenges in mind, Pathways Summer Academy prioritizes creating opportunities for youth to develop friendships and strengthen their social connections. Staff from Pathways and The Path help facilitate an abundance of icebreaker activities and team-building games designed to help youth connect with classmates and peers that they may not have otherwise met. These activities incorporate a range of skills, giving everyone an opportunity to demonstrate their strengths while also encouraging peers to support one another in areas where they may need additional help.
Building Friendship Skills Through Games and Activities
For example, some activities are more physical, such as Don’t Drop the Egg. In this game, teams of two work together to hold and protect a beach ball using one hand each, while using their free hands to knock other teams’ balls out of their grip. Other activities are more puzzle- or strategy-based, such as Tarp Flip, in which teams must figure out how to completely flip a tarp over without anyone stepping off the tarp or touching the floor.
Beyond games and friendly competition, some activities encourage youth to be vulnerable and share their experiences with one another. Icebreaker prompts can range from simple questions, such as favorite ice cream flavor, to deeper conversations about hopes, dreams, and personal experiences. The goal is to help youth recognize that they can be themselves, share their experiences, and still be accepted by those around them. Most importantly, they are reminded that they deserve to feel a sense of belonging.
Creating Belonging and Support for Young People
Not every connection made during the program will become a lifelong friendship – and that is okay. Sometimes, having a few familiar faces to greet throughout the school day can make a meaningful difference. Knowing someone to sit with, talk to, or simply say hello to can help a young person feel a little less alone.
Youth also gain another important source of support through their relationships with Pathways and The Path staff. In many cases, the program is their first opportunity to meet these staff members and establish a connection with school-based youth services. These relationships can extend beyond the summer program, giving youth trusted adults they can turn to when they need guidance, encouragement, or support.
Ultimately, Pathways Summer Academy is about more than games and activities. It is about creating a space where young people can practice connecting with others, discover their own strengths, support their peers, and recognize that they have a place in their community.