Entering the real world? Here’s some advice on relationships from the book “How to Survive the Real World” (Hundreds of Heads Books, www.hundredsofheads.com, $13.95), straight from people who’ve done it:

“Take a chance on someone. I met my one very good friend, David, in the park. I was reading a book about how Judaism was like Buddhism, and he had read it, and we started talking. I’m pretty sure he was interested in me romantically; he asked me out. Sometimes you meet a guy who likes you, and you think maybe you’re better off as friends. But you never know, so you go out on a date. I’m glad I did. If I hadn’t gone out with David, I would have never ended up being such good friends with him. And after he introduced me to the people he knew, I suddenly found I had a whole new circle of friends.”

“My high school girlfriends and I try to meet up somewhere at least once a year for fun weekend trips. We may not know every detail of each other’s lives like we used to, but there’s a strong bond and a sense of comfort when we’re all together. We know we’ll always be there for each other.”

“Make friends wherever you go. Friends are what keep you going through any transition. You feel more loved and more popular when you keep running into familiar faces.”

“There are friendships meant just for college. I was disappointed to learn that a few of the friendships I had initially deemed as everlasting fizzled out shortly after graduation. College is a time filled with fun, experimentation, life lessons, studying, achievement, and pursuit of goals. A few of my friends were perfect companions in college, but they never grew past the times of partying and financial dependence on their parents. In other words, they still have a lot of growing up to do.”

Hundreds of Heads Books’ survival guides offer the wisdom of the masses by assembling the experiences and advice of hundreds of people who have gone through life’s biggest challenges and have insight to share.