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How some friendships last — and others don’t - Iseult Gillespie

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Friendships can change how we see and move through the world. They can boost our academic performance, help us deal with setbacks, and even improve our health. And the relationships we form in adolescence can shape our beliefs, values, and emotional growth. But making and maintaining friends isn’t always easy. Iseult Gillespie shares how to build healthy friendship habits.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

Friendships change how we experience the world. To learn more about the physical and psychological benefits of friendship, read this article.

Making friends can be tricky. If you're struggling with shyness, check out this helpful explanation of why we feel this way, and how to deal with it.

Studies show that we can teach ourselves to feel more confident, and that this helps us connect with people. To better understand and boost confidence, click here.

Many people assume that the most popular person in the room, who dominates groups or conversations, is also the one who is best at making friends. But research shows that those who are intimate, trusting, and consistent with their friends often sustain healthier, happier long-term relationships than the ones who dominate social situations. You can learn more about the different types of popularity and the relationships they produce in this article and podcast.

For more ways to keep your friends close, check out these tips. You can also listen to this podcast about the science of making and keeping friends.

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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Iseult Gillespie
  • Director Biljana Labović
  • Narrator Alexandra Panzer
  • Composer Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio
  • Sound Designer Sonia Uddin, cAMP Studio
  • Art Direction and Animation Homework Studio
  • Animator Ali Kellner, Anne Saint-Louis, Hannah Churn
  • Storyboard Artist Wing Luo
  • Produced by Gerta Xhelo, Abdallah Ewis
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer Shannon Odell

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