How to avoid being paired with players 3x our rating?

Hi there! On my first live chess game I was paired with a player with a 1159 rating, almost 3x my own rating. The site says we'll be paired with players with a similar rating. I started learning chess on this website only 11 days ago and got a 400 rating when I created an account (now I have less). The game was I great lesson, but I don't think it's fair. What can I do to avoid being paired with people 3x my rating? Is this normal? Thanks for your help!

It wasn't really a 400 rating. It was just a placeholder until you played. Your first try was against an 1159. With another half dozen tries, you should start to get an idea what your rating really might be. 

Everyone has to go through it.   

Don't get discouraged after one game.

Click play, then custom, and adjust the rating range

Thank you  I had no idea.

I didn't know I could do that. Thanks

Happy to help )

Maybe chess.com could promote the option better with all the new members. One opponent remarked that it didn’t seem fair that i was 150 points higher which looks like a lot when you’re new. In reality, when we’re new the points change drastically for a time. I offered a draw and was respectfully declined. Then mentioned changing the search settings. He didn’t know about that and thanked me for the tip. Seems there are many things one must fumble through on chess.com, part of the fun I suppose.