We've all got our buddies, those people we hang out with everyday and do everything with. Friends have a lot of influence over our lives. We take on traits of those people, which is a normal process of everyday life. It's how we learn anything from walking to things like peer pressure. It's our choice of friends that can affect our lives in good or bad ways. Hanging out with the wrong crowd can have a huge impact on choices we make about alcohol, sex, and drugs.
During my elementary school years, which seems like so long ago now, I had two best friends. Their names were Ashley and Jessica. We did everything together, and we grew up together. The influence we had over each other was incredible. Whatever the other told us, we usually believed without question. No one else mattered to us, we had each other.
Over time, we started to grow apart. Growing up as I did, my two friends were well aware of things like sex, drugs, and alcohol before I was. At ten, I was the first to start my menstrual cycle, but I didn't even know what it was. However, when my friends' cycles started, they came to me for advice. I had little to give them, but I gave them what I had. It was in junior high that I realized just how quickly we were drifting apart.
Ashley and Jessica had started making more friends, but I clung to them because they were all I had. I made one other friend by the name of Jenna, but Ashley and Jessica didn't really like her because Jenna's social skills were... well, lacking. In high school, we all sort of separated. Jenna and I stayed a little closer than Ashley, Jessica, and I, but in October of my freshman year, I headed off to be home schooled, and they remained in public school.
I rarely heard from them, and we eventually lost contact entirely. Now, from what I've seen on their myspaces, Ashley's into the one thing she told herself she would never be into--drugs--because of her mother's history. Jessica is a great artist, as she had been for our whole life, and Jenna... Well, she's the one I know very little of. Occasionally, I run into her mother and step-dad, but they have little to tell me if anything at all.
To tell the truth, I rarely think of these three. As they grew up, so did I but in a different way. I've discovered that I don't really need friends outside of my family. My sister and I are closer than ever, and my two cousins Kirsty and Kaity have been my best friends since birth. Now, I also have my boyfriend's sister, Erika, but she might one day be family too.
In closing, be careful whom you choose to be a friend. They affect your life more than you think.
During my elementary school years, which seems like so long ago now, I had two best friends. Their names were Ashley and Jessica. We did everything together, and we grew up together. The influence we had over each other was incredible. Whatever the other told us, we usually believed without question. No one else mattered to us, we had each other.
Over time, we started to grow apart. Growing up as I did, my two friends were well aware of things like sex, drugs, and alcohol before I was. At ten, I was the first to start my menstrual cycle, but I didn't even know what it was. However, when my friends' cycles started, they came to me for advice. I had little to give them, but I gave them what I had. It was in junior high that I realized just how quickly we were drifting apart.
Ashley and Jessica had started making more friends, but I clung to them because they were all I had. I made one other friend by the name of Jenna, but Ashley and Jessica didn't really like her because Jenna's social skills were... well, lacking. In high school, we all sort of separated. Jenna and I stayed a little closer than Ashley, Jessica, and I, but in October of my freshman year, I headed off to be home schooled, and they remained in public school.
I rarely heard from them, and we eventually lost contact entirely. Now, from what I've seen on their myspaces, Ashley's into the one thing she told herself she would never be into--drugs--because of her mother's history. Jessica is a great artist, as she had been for our whole life, and Jenna... Well, she's the one I know very little of. Occasionally, I run into her mother and step-dad, but they have little to tell me if anything at all.
To tell the truth, I rarely think of these three. As they grew up, so did I but in a different way. I've discovered that I don't really need friends outside of my family. My sister and I are closer than ever, and my two cousins Kirsty and Kaity have been my best friends since birth. Now, I also have my boyfriend's sister, Erika, but she might one day be family too.
In closing, be careful whom you choose to be a friend. They affect your life more than you think.
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INTERVIEW-As part of the discussion regarding relationships both romantic, familial, and friendly, I've asked two of my online buddies to tell me about their real life friendship.
How did the two of you meet?
Cat: I had just moved into town, and apparently Jay's parents had heard about my family's arival, and they came to visit. Jay came in, and we quickly became friends. ^-^Who started the friendship?
Sam: My parents went over to her house to invite her family to Church. When they did that I invited Cat to the pool... and... well... she's been stuck with me since then... ^^; lol
Cat: Uhh... I don't remember which it was when she came over. Obviously she was there, but I don't remember who was more eager to be friends. XDWhat was it that made you two decided that you'd be friends?
Sam: Um... I thought it was mutual actually...
Cat: ... Uhh... She was nice? And I like swimming? And I was lonely? @.@How long do you think the friendship will last?
Sam: Um... I dunno... do you honestly decide to be friends? I think it kinda just happend over the next few months...
Cat: Untill Jay kills me from annoyance. XD And then I'll still be her friend in death. I deserved it anyway. XDWhat things do you guys like to do together?
Sam: Pfft until one of us kills the other... Which... well.. lol jk For as long as we can be friends. (Sorry Cat you're stuck with me! ;P)
Cat: I love how our answers matched perfectly. XD
Sam: Me too it makes me actually laugh out loud...
Cat: Uhh... I like to hang out...? And talk...? ... In general...? XDDo you have anything in common?
Sam: Um... probably brain-storm ideas and ponder different questions and discuss different things about life... Also just hang out and listen to music together...
Cat: We both like to write, and read. We type literately, and use big words in our everyday speech. (Remember 'epiphany'?) We both have terrible handwriting, and adore animals. We talk about stories all the time, and both like Abby from 'NCIS'. XDCan you see the two of you being friends forever?
Sam: Uh chea! We both sing in choir, love Twilight (which I got her hooked on) and Pita-ten (which she got me hooked on) And also Paramore... um... we both have rents that work in education...We both like to write... and... um... we hang out with a lot of the same people! Also we like to RP.
Sam: Um... didn't you already ask this? Ah well yes I definitely can because we know how to find the other in case we ever actually lose the others' address...Imagine one of you moved out of state. Would you keep in contact to keep the friendship alive?
Cat: FOREVER TO THE TWELFTH POWER.
Cat: YOSH. If it took learning to ride a pony. I kept in contact with Mishy when I moved a quarter of the globe. OUT OF COUNTRY. XD PHILLY.What's the craziest thing the two of you have done together?
Sam: Chea! If I can't stalk her in real life I"ll stalk her on DA... MSN... and... other places...
Sam: Um... I dunno probably one of our joint parties or that one time that we tried to play an elaborate April Fools joke on Shawney last year and... it... backfired...Have you two ever argued?
Cat: Uhh... I think it was... Umm... I can't remember... Uhh... Umn... Uhh... JOINT BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH GOTHIC TWIST.
Cat: Of course we've argued. Which good friendship has never argued? We always make up, anyway.What kind of advice would you have regarding friendships?
Sam: Yeah, but who doesn't? We've gotten over those small fights though so *shrug*
Sam: Hrm.. I would have to say, don't get really uptight and think that a fight or argument will comepletely destroy a friendship 'cause honestly if it's worth it, it won't. Also I'd like to add that it takes time to become close so don't be surprised if someone doesn't spill their guts the few first times that you see them. ^^; (speaking from experience there... lol)NikkiNQ would like to thank Sam and Cat for their participation in this little interview.
Cat: I'd say... Trust your instincts on what you should do, and always be truthful. Also, always have in mind your friend's feelings, and think how your actions will affect them. And... Uhh... If you mess up, don't hide it from them. Be straightforward, and tell them what you did wrong. If they're really your friend, they'll forgive you. Also, be yourself. People should like you for you, not your image. If they have a problem with how you are, they're not worth it.
Next on UNCENSORED: What These Interviews Have Uncovered--The Most Important Part of All Relationships