Having Friendships Are Essential

This week I wanted to talk about friendships and why they are so important to have. Having real friendships was something I didn’t really get to experience until I started college. Throughout grade school, I didn’t have that friend that I could just talk to about anything, outside of my family. I was the one that was cordial with everyone. l am a person who stays to themselves and some people probably didn’t gravitate to that when branching out to create new friendships. It wasn’t a problem for me in grade school, however, things became different once I started college. During my first semester, I was excelling in my academics but failing in my social life. I must say it was hard for me. It wasn’t until then I realized the importance of having friendships. I can safely say, I have four genuine friendships and they all have been there for me when I needed them. Sometimes I hear people say “I don’t need no friends” but in all reality having those true and genuine friends can enhance your life in ways you wouldn’t expect. They can have a positive influence on your life. You should find a place of positivity, growth, comfortability, and more in friendships. One thing that I can say is that friendships provide a support system in your life. You may be in a situation where you need those few words of encouragement and reassurance. Sometimes you may not feel comfortable going to family about certain things and that’s why it’s important to have good people in your corner. Many people without those important friendships in their life may feel lonely. This could possibly lead to other mental issues such as depression. I knew I needed solid friendships when not having them started to affect me mentally. As I stated, my social life as a freshman was something I struggled with. There were times where I would literally be sad because I didn’t have someone to talk to. Thankfully, I grew beautiful relationships with the four people I proudly call my friends. Kendaydria and I knew each other from high school but we really started to build a solid friendship in college. During my sophomore year, I created a friendship with Tierra. During my junior year is when I created my friendships with Taneisha and Jerric. I can honestly say all of these friendships added quality to my life. To me, that’s the whole purpose of friends. You are supposed to feel comfortable enough around your friends to be yourself without the fear of being judged. Another thing I want to hit on is “yes men.” Yes men are those people that always agree and are reluctant to voice their opinions in a bad situation. Of course, we want to be supported in our friendships, however, there should be an open space in that friendship, to be honest, if the criticism is needed. You need people in your life that are not afraid to stand up to encourage you to make those right decisions. Know the difference between friends and associates. It’s okay to go out and party with someone you call your friend but if that’s all they are there for, you might want to reevaluate. There are more things to friendships than going out for a good time. Are they pushing you to make that successful move? Are they there for you during tough times? Do they provide the same amount of support as you? Do they add value to your life? These are the things that really matter.