friends influence essay

The Importance of Friendship

Friendships are a crucial part of living a fulfilling life..

Posted July 26, 2021 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

• Friendship makes life more enjoyable and enriches one's everyday experiences.
• Finding friends can be challenging but can be often achieved by approaching others with mutual interests.
• The first criteria one should look for in a partner is someone who is ultimately a good friend to them.

As we move through life, we find that there are many things out of our control. We can’t choose our parents, our genetics , or control the things that happen in the world around us. One thing that we can control is who our friends are, and this decision can either make our lives so much richer and beautiful, or more stressful and disappointing. Today we’ll focus on how to choose friends who enrich our lives and make them more beautiful.

Why friends are so important

Having solid friendships is important for two main reasons. First, they make life more enjoyable. We get to share the beautiful aspects of life with people who we love, which can enrich our everyday experiences. Second, our friends help us through the difficult times. Having friends to support us through hard times can make unimaginably difficult situations seem more tolerable.

The most beautiful part about pouring our time and energy into friendships is that not only do friends help enrich our lives, but we enrich theirs too! Friendships get us through the tough times in life, make things more fun and enjoyable, and all-around make our lives better. I urge you to take stock of your friendships and ask yourself if your current friends people build you up and support you, or is the friendship more one-sided?

As we explore friendships today, these are also inclusive of our partners. I believe that the foundation for any healthy relationship is friendship. So it’s important to group our romantic partners into this conversation too.

So, where do we find friends? This might sound silly, but finding friends can be challenging! When I first moved to California for my Ph.D., I didn’t have any friends out here. There were quite a few people in my program that I enjoyed spending time with. But, towards the end of school, they became very busy and were no longer able to dedicate time to hang out anymore. Thankfully, through the help of a very good therapist, I learned that it was important to enjoy life instead of striving for excellence all of the time. As a result, I learned how important it was to carve out time in my life for friends.

Unfortunately, the people I had dedicated time to thus far were achievement-oriented and were pouring their time into work and not our friendships. This forced me to seek out other ways to form connections with people. I ended up finding a local hiking group with the hopes of meeting people with similar interests. During one of these hikes, I met Jim, one of my best friends to this day.

We became instant friends. We have continued to support each other over the years, and even more importantly, we always make time for one another. We both view the friendship as one that makes each other’s lives better, therefore it’s always worth the time and energy. The backbone of any successful friendship is one where both sides put in equal effort and support.

Both Jim and I were forced to put in more effort when he moved across the country to the East Coast. Because we already had such a strong foundation, this didn’t impact our friendship. We talk all of the time and see each other several times a year. We make the relationship a priority no matter what coast each other is on. Like anything in life that is valuable to us, we must work at it and put time and effort into it.

When it's time to move on from a friendship

The second part of the friendship discussion can be a difficult one — reassessing your current friendships and potentially moving on from friends who don’t add value to your life.

Two of my best friends from high school went down different paths from me. We still keep in contact, but I don’t spend too much time with them anymore. The supporting, loving part of our relationship wasn’t there anymore, so it was no longer worth putting energy into maintaining a friendship that had changed so much.

This may be a story you can relate to. What I hope you take away from this post is this — friendships take energy, time, and commitment. And if you’re putting your time and energy into someone who isn’t enriching your life and giving you the support you need, it may be time to reevaluate that friendship.

If you find yourself in the market for friends (who isn’t?) I recommend you find groups or activities that you genuinely enjoy. This way you’ll have the opportunity to connect with people who have similar interests. And once you’re there, take a risk! Talk to people, exchange contact information, and follow up with them. It may feel scary at first, but the reward outweighs the momentary uncomfortable feeling you may have.

Friendship and dating

In many ways, the most important friendship in our lives is the one we have with our romantic partners. The first criteria we should look for in this partner is someone who is ultimately a good friend to us, meaning that they are kind, positive, loving, and supportive. If we’re dating someone and they’re a jerk, it’s probably safe to assume that they’re not a good friend. To avoid this, I recommend seeking out someone who is a good friend first, i.e. before the romance and sexual stuff gets in the way.

When there are bumps in a friendship or a romantic relationship , it’s important to work through those tough times. The tricky part is that it will take two people to fix that issue. We can only control our actions and hold ourselves accountable, but we cannot control our friend or our partner's reaction. In addition to our own actions, we have control over the friends or partners that we choose in the first place. If we prioritize choosing good people who we can trust will work through issues with us, then we can work through anything.

Friendships are a crucial part of living a fulfilling life. It’s so important that we surround ourselves with people who we have fun with, who support us, and people who make us better. You may already have beautiful friendships in your life, but if you’re still in the market for friends, it’s never too late to cultivate new relationships that will make your life even more magnificent.

Robert Puff, Ph.D. , is host and producer of the Happiness Podcast, with over 16 million downloads.

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How do friends influence your life? Do you think your friends have a positive influence on your long-term wellbeing?

The people with whom you closely associate are critically important because you inevitably end up doing things like them. Have you ever considered how friends influence your life?

Consider how friends influence your life and whether that influence is positive or negative.

How Do Friends Influence Your Life?

The people with whom you closely associate are critically important because you inevitably end up talking, reading, eating, thinking, watching, and otherwise doing things like them. According to one expert, your closest associations—your “reference group”— can determine much of your success in life. Jim Rohn says we are the average of the five people we associate with most.  That’s why you have to think about how friends influence your life.

Our friends influence us subtly yet powerfully, and that influence can be negative or positive. For example, if you hang out with people who order potato skins and other greasy appetizers while gossiping, you’ll soon find yourself joining right in. If, however, you hang out with people who order healthy food and talk about uplifting subjects, you’ll assimilate these behaviors. 

If you want to possess certain traits, the best way to start is by hanging out with people who already possess those traits. The habits and attitudes they possess will rub off on you, and you can then mirror that success in your own life.

Consider the people you spend the most time with and place them into one of 3 categories:

• Dissociations . These are the people you need to cut ties with. They are negative influences who don’t seem to be growing or changing in a positive direction. When you break away from these people, it won’t be easy. They will resist, seeing your positive direction as a negative reflection on them.
• Limited associations : There are people who are fine to be around for a few minutes, or a few hours, or even a few days, but any more than that creates a dampening influence on you. Look at the people in your life and see if you’re spending too much time with someone whose contact you should limit.
• Expanded associations . Find people who have positive qualities in areas of life you’d like to emulate, for example, business success or loving marriages. Make an effort to spend more time with these people, even if you have to go out of your way. Join organizations where the type of people you admire gather. If you admire an author or speaker you don’t have access to, listen to their materials and learn from them.

Expanded Associations: Mentoring

Finding a mentor is a great way to associate more with an individual whose qualities you’d like to emulate. You are never so good that you can’t benefit from a mentor. In fact, some of the most successful individuals keep learning from the best coaches and trainers there are.

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Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Friendship — The Importance of Friendship: Ways to Nurture and Strengthen Relationships

The Importance of Friendship: Ways to Nurture and Strengthen Relationships

• Categories: Friendship

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Words: 873 |

Published: Feb 7, 2024

Words: 873 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Table of contents

Definition of friendship, discuss the importance of friendship in people's lives, mention different types of friends, characteristics of a good friend, benefits of friendship, challenges in maintaining a friendship, ways to nurture and strengthen friendships.

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Importance of Friends in our Life for Students and Children

500+ words essay importance of friends in our life.

When we are born, we get associated with our family by blood relation. However, there is a relation, which we choose ourselves. That relation is a friend.  Friends make our life beautiful.  The adventure of life becomes beautiful when good friends surround us. We all belong to a family, where we have our parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, etc. We get immense love, care, attention and guidance from our family. However, our entire life does not revolve around our family members only. We all have our own purpose in life. Some members of our family go to school, some go to college, and our parents go to work. We all have a life outside our family. No journey of life seems interesting when traveled alone. We tend to make friends outside our family boundaries as that makes all life activities enjoyable.

Friends are Essential in Every Sphere of Life

We connect very quickly with people with whom our interests match. Infants are playful by nature. They always look for the company with whom the can play and explore their curious nature. Hence, when they meet any other infant of their age they connect easily over their common interest of playing.

In school, we make friends over our common interests. For example, students who like playing sports like cricket connect quickly and they become friends. Friends meet and discuss their common interests and nurture their interests together. Friends in school help each other in understanding the class activities, and homework. They often exchange notes and reference materials among themselves.

During our college life, we get independence in taking many decisions on our own. Also, many live in a hostel and are hence away from their family. Studying together, staying together, nurturing interest together, adjusting to conflicts with each other, helping each other all these makes the bond of friendship stronger.

A friend highlights mistakes and guides us in many ways. They also motivate us to realize our full potential. Also, we can easily discuss and share such issues and thoughts with our friends which we cannot share with our parents.

In our professional life also, friends also help us handle failure positively and multiply our joy of success. During midlife, we have huge responsibilities for family, job, etc. Discussing professional and personal stress with our friends makes us feel relaxed. They are our mental support and when we are in crisis, a good friend joins hand and helps in solving the problem.

Because of the nuclear family structure of the current society in old age, people mostly stay alone. Friends hang out and travel together to explore various places and enjoy several hobbies together. Friends thus eliminate boredom and loneliness from life. They add color to life. They become big support for any help needed.

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Famous Friendship stories

In history, we get examples of many friendship stories, which shows the importance of friend in life. From the stories of Lord Krishna and Arjun, Ram and Sugreev, Lord Krishna and Sudama, Duryodhan and Karn it shows that friends have always been a person who helps and supports us. They help us come out of distress and grow in life.

Friendship is not only between two people. We become friends with animals around us. Hence, we tend to keep pets. Pets eliminate boredom and stress from our life. Spending time with pets give us immense joy.

Animals also become friends among themselves. They also help and support each other in the process of survival and existence. The biggest example of the need of friend among animals is there in the story Lion and the Mouse where they both help each other come out of difficult situations.

In our lifetime we choose our own friends. The journey of life becomes memorable because of friends. Friendship is a lovely relation without which life seems dull. It is the relationship with our friends that teaches us to share, love, care and most importantly helps us to fight odds and be successful. Having true friends acts as a boon. Friends increase the sense of belongingness and generate a feel-good factor. We all thrive and look for at least one that friend who at times criticizes and appreciates too. Emotional and psychological attachments are important and can only be experienced with friends.

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Short Essay: About Friendship

Friendship is a universal human experience that has captivated poets, philosophers, and scholars throughout history. It is a bond that enriches our lives, providing support, companionship, and a sense of belonging. Writing an essay about friendship allows us to delve into the complexities of this relationship and explore its significance in our lives.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of crafting an engaging essay that delves into the essence of friendship. From understanding the concept to developing a strong thesis statement, conducting research, organizing your ideas, and finally, crafting a compelling conclusion, we will provide you with a step-by-step approach to writing an outstanding essay about friendship.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Concept of Friendship

Before embarking on writing an essay about friendship, it is crucial to develop a clear understanding of what friendship truly means. Begin by exploring various definitions of friendship from different perspectives, such as psychological, philosophical, and sociological. Reflect on your personal experiences and observations to gain insights into the qualities and dynamics that define friendship. Consider aspects such as trust, mutual respect, shared interests, emotional support, and longevity. These elements form the foundation of a strong friendship and can serve as the basis for your essay.

Developing a Strong Thesis Statement

A well-crafted thesis statement is the backbone of any essay. It concisely presents the main argument or perspective you will explore throughout your essay. When constructing a thesis statement for an essay about friendship, consider the specific angle or aspect of friendship you wish to focus on. For example, you may choose to examine the role of communication in nurturing and maintaining friendships. Your thesis statement could be: “Effective communication is the cornerstone of lasting friendships, fostering trust, understanding, and emotional connection.”

Conducting Research

To support your thesis statement and enhance the credibility of your essay, conduct thorough research on the topic of friendship. Explore scholarly articles, books, and reputable online sources that provide insights into the dynamics of friendship, its psychological aspects, cultural influences, and historical significance. Additionally, consider incorporating personal anecdotes or interviews with friends to provide a more relatable and authentic perspective. As you gather information, remember to cite your sources accurately and keep track of the references for your bibliography.

Organizing Your Ideas

An organized essay is easier to read and comprehend. Structure your essay in a coherent and logical manner. Begin with an introduction that captures the reader’s attention, provides necessary context, and presents your thesis statement. Divide the body of your essay into distinct paragraphs, each addressing a specific aspect of friendship. For instance, one paragraph might discuss the importance of trust, while another explores the impact of shared experiences. Support each point with evidence from your research or personal experiences. Use transitional phrases to ensure a smooth flow between paragraphs.

Crafting a Compelling Conclusion

The conclusion is your opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the reader. Recapitulate your main points, reinforcing the significance of friendship in human life. Avoid introducing new ideas, but instead, offer a broader perspective that encourages the reader to reflect on the topic. You can end with a thought-provoking question or a call to action, inviting the reader to nurture their own friendships or explore the topic further.

Editing and Proofreading

Once you have written the initial draft, take time to review and refine your essay. Check for clarity, coherence, and grammar errors. Ensure that your arguments are well-supported and that your writing flows smoothly. Consider seeking feedback from peers, friends, or instructors to gain different perspectives and identify areas for improvement. Make necessary revisions and proofread your essay carefully before submitting the final version.

Friendship Essay Example #1

Friendship is a profound and cherished bond that shapes our lives, providing us with companionship, support, and a sense of belonging. This essay explores the essence and significance of friendship, shedding light on its impact on individuals and society as a whole. By examining its qualities, benefits, and challenges, we can gain a deeper understanding of this universal human experience.

Friendship is a multifaceted concept that encompasses various dimensions. It goes beyond mere acquaintanceship and involves a deep emotional connection between individuals. Trust, mutual respect, and empathy are fundamental pillars that underpin genuine friendships. Additionally, shared interests, common values, and the ability to provide emotional support contribute to the formation and sustenance of friendships.

Friendship bestows numerous benefits on our lives. Firstly, friendships provide emotional support during challenging times, serving as a source of comfort and solace. True friends offer a listening ear, empathy, and advice when needed. Secondly, friendships foster personal growth and self-discovery by offering opportunities for self-expression, feedback, and constructive criticism. Friends encourage us to explore our passions, challenge our beliefs, and strive for personal development. Lastly, friendships contribute to our overall well-being. Research has shown that individuals with strong social connections tend to have improved mental health, increased self-esteem, and a greater sense of happiness and life satisfaction.

While friendship brings immense joy, it is not without its challenges. Misunderstandings, disagreements, and conflicts are inevitable in any relationship, including friendships. However, these challenges can be opportunities for growth and strengthening the bond. Effective communication, active listening, and the willingness to resolve conflicts with understanding and compromise are key to overcoming these obstacles and nurturing long-lasting friendships.

In today’s digital era, technology has transformed the landscape of friendship. Social media platforms and online communities have made it easier to connect with others, but they also present unique challenges. The concept of friendship has expanded to include virtual friendships, where individuals form connections with people they may have never met in person. While these online friendships can be fulfilling, it is important to strike a balance between virtual and face-to-face interactions to maintain genuine connections.

Building and maintaining friendships require effort and investment. To cultivate meaningful friendships, it is essential to prioritize quality over quantity. Invest time and energy in fostering connections with individuals who share similar values and interests. Regular communication, showing appreciation, and being supportive are crucial in nurturing friendships. Additionally, being a good listener, respecting boundaries, and being dependable contribute to the growth and longevity of friendships.

Friendship is a precious gift that enhances our lives in countless ways. It provides us with a sense of belonging, emotional support, personal growth, and happiness. By understanding the essence and significance of friendship, recognizing its benefits, navigating its challenges, and actively nurturing our connections, we can cultivate a rich tapestry of friendships that enrich our lives and contribute to our overall well-being. Let us cherish and celebrate the profound bonds of friendship that make our journey through life more meaningful and fulfilling.

Friendship Essay Example #2

Friendship is a remarkable aspect of human existence that transcends boundaries and enriches our lives. It is a unique bond built on trust, loyalty, and shared experiences. In this essay, we delve into the depths of friendship, unraveling its true meaning and exploring the profound impact it has on individuals and society as a whole. By examining its origins, qualities, and the role it plays in personal growth and social connections, we gain a deeper appreciation for the significance of friendship.

Friendship has ancient roots, dating back to the earliest human civilizations. It emerged as a survival mechanism, bringing people together for protection, collaboration, and emotional support. Over time, friendship evolved beyond mere necessity, transforming into a profound connection that goes beyond biological ties. It is a voluntary relationship based on mutual affection, trust, and understanding.

True friendship encompasses a myriad of qualities that distinguish it from casual acquaintanceships. Trust is the foundation upon which friendships are built, allowing individuals to share their vulnerabilities and secrets without fear of judgment or betrayal. Loyalty and reliability are key components, as friends stand by each other through thick and thin. Empathy and compassion enable friends to offer support and understanding during challenging times. Shared interests, humor, and the ability to communicate openly contribute to the depth and longevity of friendships.

Friendship plays a crucial role in personal growth and development. Friends serve as mirrors, reflecting our strengths, weaknesses, and blind spots. They offer constructive feedback, encouragement, and motivation, helping us become the best versions of ourselves. Through shared experiences and conversations, friends broaden our perspectives and introduce us to new ideas, cultures, and possibilities. They challenge our assumptions and beliefs, fostering intellectual growth and self-discovery.

Beyond individual growth, friendships have a profound impact on society as a whole. They form the fabric of social connections, creating networks of support, collaboration, and shared values. Friendships transcend societal divisions such as race, religion, and socioeconomic status, promoting inclusivity and understanding. They contribute to social cohesion and foster a sense of belonging, reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Friendship is not immune to challenges and conflicts. Misunderstandings, disagreements, and changing circumstances can strain relationships. However, navigating these challenges with open communication, empathy, and a willingness to compromise can strengthen the bond. Conflict resolution skills, forgiveness, and the ability to adapt to evolving dynamics are essential for maintaining healthy and resilient friendships.

Lifelong friendships are a treasure to be cherished. Friends who have stood the test of time provide a sense of stability, continuity, and shared history. These friendships offer a deep understanding and acceptance that comes from years of shared experiences and memories. Lifelong friends become pillars of support, offering a sense of belonging and security throughout life’s ups and downs.

Friendship is a timeless and cherished aspect of human existence. Its true meaning lies in the genuine connections, trust, and support it provides. As we explore its depths, we discover that friendship is not merely a casual association but a profound bond that shapes our personal growth and societal connections. Let us value and nurture the friendships we have, celebrating the unique and irreplaceable role they play in our lives.

Friendship Essay Example #3

Friendship is a remarkable and transformative force that has the ability to profoundly shape our lives. It is a unique bond that goes beyond mere companionship, offering support, understanding, and a sense of belonging. In this essay, we delve into the transformative power of friendship, exploring how these connections influence our personal growth, mental well-being, and overall happiness. By understanding the qualities of genuine friendship, nurturing meaningful connections, and overcoming obstacles, we can unlock the true potential of this extraordinary relationship.

Genuine friendship is characterized by a set of qualities that lay the foundation for meaningful connections. Trust is paramount, as it creates a safe space for vulnerability and open communication. Mutual respect, empathy, and non-judgment allow friends to understand and accept each other, fostering a deep sense of connection. Shared values, interests, and a sense of humor bring joy and harmony to the relationship. Additionally, reciprocity and support form the pillars of friendship, as friends stand by each other through both triumphs and tribulations.

Friendship provides a nurturing environment for personal growth and self-discovery. Through meaningful conversations, friends offer different perspectives, challenge our beliefs, and inspire us to explore new horizons. They encourage us to step out of our comfort zones, pursue our passions, and overcome obstacles. Friends become catalysts for self-improvement, motivating us to set goals, acquire new skills, and become the best versions of ourselves.

The influence of friendship extends to our mental well-being. Friends offer emotional support, providing a shoulder to lean on during difficult times. They lend a listening ear, offer advice, and validate our feelings, reducing stress and anxiety. The sense of belonging and acceptance fostered by friendships acts as a protective factor against loneliness and depression. Studies have shown that individuals with strong social connections have better mental health outcomes and a higher overall life satisfaction.

Friendship is not without its challenges. Conflicts, misunderstandings, and differences of opinion are inevitable. However, navigating these challenges with open communication, active listening, and a willingness to understand each other’s perspectives can strengthen the bond. Conflict resolution skills, compromise, and forgiveness play crucial roles in maintaining healthy and resilient friendships. The ability to acknowledge and learn from mistakes is essential for growth within the relationship.

Nurturing friendships requires time, effort, and genuine care. Regular communication, whether in person or through technology, helps maintain connections and strengthen the bond. Shared experiences, such as engaging in activities together or creating new memories, deepen the friendship. It is essential to prioritize and invest in these relationships, as they contribute significantly to our overall happiness and well-being.

Friendship transcends boundaries of age, culture, and background. True friendships can be formed with individuals from different walks of life, enriching our perspectives and broadening our horizons. Embracing diversity within friendships fosters empathy, global understanding, and tolerance. It allows us to learn from one another, celebrating our differences while finding common ground.

Friendship is a transformative force that shapes our lives in remarkable ways. By cultivating genuine connections, we unlock the potential for personal growth, mental well-being, and happiness. Through trust, support, and shared experiences, friendships become the bedrock of our emotional support system. Nurturing these connections and overcoming challenges strengthens the bond, creating lifelong companionship and a sense of belonging. Let us treasure and celebrate the transformative power of friendship, recognizing its profound impact on our lives.

Final Thoughts

Writing an essay about friendship allows you to delve into the intricacies of this cherished relationship. By understanding the concept, developing a strong thesis, conducting research, organizing your ideas coherently, and crafting a compelling conclusion, you can create an essay that captures the essence and importance of friendship.

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Essay on Friendship

List of essays on friendship, essay on friendship – short essay for kids (essay 1 – 150 words), essay on friendship – 10 lines on friendship written in english (essay 2 – 250 words), essay on friendship – for school students (class 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7) (essay 3 – 300 words), essay on friendship – for students (essay 4 – 400 words), essay on friendship (essay 5 – 500 words), essay on friendship – introduction, benefits and qualities (essay 6 – 600 words), essay on friendship – essay on true friendship (essay 7 – 750 words), essay on friendship – importance, types, examples and conclusion (essay 8 – 1000 words).

Friendship is a divine relationship, which is defined by neither blood nor any other similarity. Who is in this world does not have a friend?

A friend, with whom you just love to spend your time, can share your joys and sorrows. Most importantly you need not fake yourself and just be what you are. That is what friendship is all about. It is one of the most beautiful of the relations in the world. Students of today need to understand the values of friendship and therefore we have composed different long essays for students as well as short essays.

Audience: The below given essays are exclusively written for school students (Class 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 Standard).

Introduction:

Friendship is considered as one of the treasures that anyone can possess. God has given us the liberty to choose friends because they are for our lifetime. It is quite normal for our parents and siblings to love us because they are our own blood but a friend is someone who is initially a stranger and then takes his/her place above all the other relations. Friendship is nothing but pure love without any expectations.

Role of a Friend:

True friends share and support each other even during the toughest of times. A true friend is one who feels happy for our success, who feel sad for our failures, fight with us for silly things and hugs us the next second, gets angry on us when we do any mistakes. Friendship is all about having true friends who can understand us without the need for us to speak.

Conclusion:

Friendship is very essential for a happy life. Even a two-minute chat with a friend will make us forget our worries. That is the strength of friendship.

Friendship is a divine relationship, which is defined by neither blood nor any other similarity. Friends are those you can choose for yourself in spite of the difference you both have from each other. A good friend in need will do wonders in your life, whenever you are in need of self-realization, upbringing your confidence and more.

Friendship serves you best not only in your happiest moments but also when you feel low in emotions. A life without a good friend is not at all complete and an emptiness will be felt all the time you think of sharing your emotion that can’t be told to anyone else.

Honesty and Patience in Friendship:

To maintain and keep going with a good deep friendship, honesty is the most important factor. You should choose a person who can be cent percent honest with you in all perspective like emotions, decision making, etc. Trustworthy friendship will help you to take better decisions and choose a better path for your future well-being.

Tolerance and patience with each other are another important characteristics of long-lasting friendship. Accepting the differences, friends should be able to be with each other in all situations. As a friend, the person should lead the other to success by being a motivation and criticize the person if they choose the wrong path.

Friendship will give you sweet and happy memories that can be cherished for a lifetime and if you succeed in maintaining that precious relation, then you are the luckiest person in this world. Love and care for each other will cherish the relationship and helps the person to appreciate each thing done without any fail.

Of all the different relations which we indulge in, friendship is considered to be the purest of them all. Friendship is the true confluence of souls with like minded attitude that aids in seamless conversation and the best of times. It is believed that a person who doesn’t have any friend lives one of the toughest lives.

The Desire to Belong:

Each one of us have been so programmed that we need a companion even if it’s not romantic, someone just to tag along. There are several definitions of friendship and it is upon you as to how you believe your relation to be. Friendship can happen when you are simply sharing a bowl of food with a person day after day. It can be expressed in the way you silently care for someone even when they may not be aware of your existence.

The Little Moments that Matter:

It is giving up the little things you love dearly for the sake of someone you cherish a great deal. Friendship often refers to the little moments of senseless laugh you two share when the rest of the world starts to look bleak. It is to know what your friend needs and being there for them even when the rest of the world has turned their back towards them.

Friendship is the kind of relation which sometimes even exceeds the realms of love because it is all about giving without even once bothering to sense what you shall get back. Every time spent is special because when you are with friends, you don’t feel the blues!

The Bottom-Line:

Of course the definition of friendship is going to vary a great deal from one person to another. But, remember one thing, when you are friends with someone, be prepared to put your heart on the line for their happiness because friendship often manifests into love, even if it is not romantic, it always is true!

Friendship is the most valuable as well as precious gifts of life. Friendship is one of the most valued relationship. People who have good friends enjoy the most in their live. True friendship is based on loyalty & support. A good friend is a person who will stand with you when times are tough. A friend is someone special on whom you can rely on to celebrate a special moment. Friendship is like a life asset and it can lead us to success. It all depends on our choice how we choose our friends.

The quality of friendship is essential for happiness. The benefits of healthy friendship remains long-life. In addition, having a strong friend circle also improves our self-confidence. Due to the strong relationship, we get much emotional support during our bad times. True friendship is a feeling of love & care.

Real friendship cannot be built within limited boundaries like caste or creed. It gives us a feeling that someone really needs us & we are not alone. This is true that man cannot live alone. True friends are needed in every stage of life to survive. A true friend can be an old person or a child. But it is generally believed that we make friend with people who are of the same age as ours. Same age group can give you the freedom to share anything.

The selection of a true friend is also a challenging task. We have to carefully make our friend selection. Friends might come & go. They will make you laugh & cry. Wrong selection can create various problems for you. In the modern world, many youngsters become a social nuisance. The reason behind it is wrong & bad friendships.

But if we successfully choose the right person as a friend then our life becomes easier. It doesn’t matter who you are, what type of clothes you wear. The most important thing is trust because the relation of friendship stands on the pillars of trust.

Friendship is a relation which can make or break us in every stage of life. But in other words, friendship is an asset which is really precious. Obviously, it is also not so easy to maintain friendships. It demands your time as well as efforts. Last but not the least, it is hard to find true friendship but once you succeed in this task you will have a wonderful time. In exchange for that a friend will only need your valuable time and trust.

The idea of friendship is either heartwarming or gives cold feet depending on individuals and the types of friendships. In the current world, friendships have had different definitions based on the morality and civilization of the society. Ideally, friendship is defined as the state of mutual trust between individuals or parties. Trust is an important component of friendship because it determines the reliability and longevity of the friendship. Trust is built through honest communications between the individuals and interested parties.

Once trust has been established, mutual understanding and support being to form the resulting in a friendship. This friendship can be broken through lack of trust. Trust can be breached through deceit and/ or some people, it differs with the frequencies. There are people who will break friendships after only one episode of dishonesty whereas some people give second chances and even more chances. Friendship types determine the longevity and the causes of breakups. The importance of friendship in the lives of individuals is the reason why friendships are formed in the first place.

Types of Friendships:

According to Aristotle’s Nichomachean ethics, there are three types of friendships. The friendships are based on three factors i.e. utility, pleasure and goodness. The first type of friendship is based on utility and has been described as a friendship whereby both parties gain from each other.

This type of friendship is dependent on the benefits and that is what keeps the friendship going. This type of friendships do not last long because it dissolves as soon as the benefits are outsourced or when other sources are found outside the friendship. The friendship was invented for trade purposes because when two people with opposite things that depend on each other re put together, trade is maximized.

The second type of friendship is based on pleasure. This is described as friendship in which two individuals are drawn to each other based on desires of pleasure and is characterized by passionate feelings and feelings of belonging. This type of friendship can ether last long or is short-lived depending on the presence of the attraction between the two parties.

The third type of friendship is based on goodness. In this friendship, the goodness of people draw them to each other and they usually have the same virtues. The friendship involves loving each other and expecting goodness. It takes long to develop this kind of friendship but it usually lasts longest and is actually the best kind of friendship to be in. the importance of such a friendship is the social support and love.

In conclusion, friendships are important in the lives of individuals. Trust builds and sustains friendships. The different types of friendships are important because they provide benefits and social support. Friendships provide a feeling of belonging and dependence. The durability of friendships is dependent on the basis of its formation and the intention during the formation. Friendships that last long are not based on materialistic gain, instead, they are based on pure emotion.

Friendship is an emotion of care, mutual trust, and fondness among two persons. A friend might be a work-mate, buddy, fellow student or any individual with whom we feel an attachment.

In friendship, people have a mutual exchange of sentiments and faith too. Usually, the friendship nurtures more amongst those people who belong to a similar age as they possess the same passions, interests, sentiments, and opinions. During the school days, kids who belong to the similar age group have a common dream about their future and this makes them all of them get closer in friendship.

In the same way, employees working in business organizations also make friends as they are working together for attaining the organizational objectives. It does not matter that to which age group you belong, friendship can happen at any time of your life.

Benefits of Friendship:

Sometimes friendship is essential in our life. Below are a few benefits of friendship.

1. It’s impossible to live your life alone always but friendship fills that gap quickly with the friend’s company.

2. You can easily pass the rigidities of life with the friendship as in your distress period your friends are always there to help you.

3. Friendship teaches you how to remain happy in life.

4. In case of any confusion or problem, your friendship will always benefit you with good opinions.

True and Dishonest Friendship:

True friendship is very rare in today’s times. There are so many persons who support only those people who are in power so that they can fulfil their selfish motives below the name of friendship. They stay with friends till the time their selfish requirements are achieved. Dishonest friends leave people as soon as their power gets vanished. You can find these types of self-seeking friends all around the world who are quite hurtful than enemies.

Finding a true friendship is very difficult. A true friend helps the other friend who is in need. It does not matter to him that his friend is right or wrong but he will always support his friend at the time of his difficulty.

Carefulness in the Selection of Friendship:

You must be very careful while choosing friends. You should nurture your friendship with that person who does not leave you in your bad times easily. Once you get emotionally attached to the wrong person you cannot finish your friendship so soon. True friendship continues till the time of your last breaths and does not change with the passing time.

Friendship with a bad person also affects your own thoughts and habits. Therefore, a bad person should not be chosen in any type of circumstances. We must do friendship with full attention and carefulness.

Best Qualities of Good Friendship:

Good friendship provides people an enormous love to each other.

The below are the important qualities of good friendship:

1. Good friendship is always faithful, honest, and truthful.

2. People pay attention and take note of others thoughts in good friendship.

3. Persons quickly forget and let off the mistakes of the other friend. In fact, they accept their friend in the way they are actually.

4. You are not judged on the basis of your success, money or power in it.

5. Friends do not feel shy to provide us with valuable opinions for our welfare.

6. People always share their joyful times with their good friends and also stay ready to help their friends in the time of need.

7. True friends also support others in their professional as well as personal life. They encourage their friends in the area of their interest.

Friendship is established over the sacrifice, love, faith, and concern of mutual benefit. True Friendship is a support and a blessing for everybody. All those males and females who have true and genuine friends are very lucky really.

Friendship can simply be defined as a form of mutual relationship or understanding between two people or more who interact and are attached to one another in a manner that is friendly. A friendship is a serious relationship of devotion between two or more people where people involved have a true and sincere feeling of affection, care and love towards each other devoid of any misunderstanding and without demands.

Primarily friendship happens between people that have the same sentiments, feelings and tastes. It is believed that there is no limit or criteria for friendship. All of the different creed, religion, caste, position, sex and age do not matter when it comes to friendship even though friendships can sometimes be damaged by economic disparity and other forms of differentiation. From all of these, it can be concluded that real and true friendship is very possible between people that have a uniform status and are like-minded.

A lot of friends we have in the world today only remain together in times of prosperity and absence of problems but only the faithful, sincere and true friends remain all through the troubles, times of hardships and our bad times. We only discover who our bad and good friends are in the times where we don’t have things going our way.

Most people want to be friends with people with money and we can’t really know if our friends are true when we have money and do not need their help, we only discover our true friends when we need their help in terms of money or any other form of support. A lot of friendships have been jeopardised because of money and the absence or presence of it.

Sometimes, we might face difficulty or crises in our friendships because of self-respect and ego. Friendships can be affected by us or others and we need to try to strike a balance in our friendships. For our friendship to prosper and be true, we need satisfaction, proper understanding and a trustworthy nature. As true friends, we should never exploit our friends but instead do our utmost best to motivate and support them in doing and attaining the very best things in life.

The true meaning of friendship is sometimes lost because of encounters with fake friends who have used and exploited us for their own personal benefits. People like this tend to end the friendship once they get what they want or stab their supposed friends in the back just to get what they think is best for them. Friendship is a very good thing that can help meet our need for companionship and other emotional needs.

In the world we live in today, it is extremely difficult to come across good and loyal friends and this daunting task isn’t made any easier by the lie and deceit of a lot of people in this generation. So, when one finds a very good and loyal important, it is like finding gold and one should do everything to keep friends like that.

The pursuit of true friendship Is not limited to humans, we can as well find good friends in animals; for example, it is a popular belief that dogs make the best friends. It is very important to have good friends as they help us in times and situations where we are down and facing difficulties. Our true friends always do their best to save us when we are in danger and also provide us with timely and good advice. True friends are priceless assets in our lives, they share our pains and sorrow, help provide relief to us in terrible situations and do their best to make us happy.

Friends can both be the good or the bad types. Good friends help push us on the right path in life while on the other hand, bad friends don’t care about us but only care about themselves and can lead us into the wrong path; because of this, we have to be absolutely careful when choosing our friends in this life.

Bad friends can ruin our lives completely so we have to be weary of them and do our best to avoid bag friends totally. We need friends in our life that will be there for us at every point in time and will share all of our feeling with us, both the good and bad. We need friends we can talk to anytime we are feeling lonely, friends that will make us laugh and smile anytime we are feeling sad.

What is friendship? It is the purest form of relationship between two individual with no hidden agenda. As per the dictionary, it is the mutual affection between people. But, is it just a mutual affection? Not always, as in the case of best friends, it is far beyond that. Great friends share each other’s feelings or notions which bring a feeling of prosperity and mental fulfillment.

A friend is a person whom one can know deeply, as and trust for eternity. Rather than having some likeness in the idea of two people associated with the friendship, they have some extraordinary qualities yet they want to be with each other without changing their uniqueness. By and large, friends spur each other without censuring, however at times great friends scrutinize do affect you in a positive manner.

Importance of Friendship:

It is very important to have a friend in life. Each friend is vital and their significance in known to us when certain circumstances emerge which must be supported by our friends. One can never feel lonely in this world on the off chance that he or she is embraced by true friends. Then again, depression wins in the lives of the individuals who don’t have friends regardless of billions of individuals present on the planet. Friends are particularly vital amid times of emergency and hardships. On the off chance that you wind up experiencing a hard time, having a friend to help you through can make the change simpler.

Having friends you can depend on can help your confidence. Then again, an absence of friends can make you feel lonely and without help, which makes you powerless for different issues, for example, sadness and drug abuse. Having no less than one individual you can depend on will formulate your confidence.

Choosing Your Friends Wisely:

Not all friends can instill the positivity in your life. There can be negative effects as well. It is very important to choose your friends with utmost wisdom. Picking the right friend is somewhat troublesome task however it is extremely important. In the event that for instance a couple of our dear friends are engaged with negative behaviour patterns, for example, smoking, drinking and taking drugs, at some point or another we will be attracted to their bad habits as well. This is the reason behind why it is appropriate to settle on an appropriate decision with regards to making friends.

Genuine friendship is truly a gift delighted in by a couple. The individuals who have it ought to express gratitude toward God for having genuine pearls in their lives and the individuals who don’t have a couple of good friends ought to always take a stab at better approaches to anchor great friends. No organization is superior to having a friend close by in the midst of need. You will stay cheerful in your one-room flat on the off chance that you are surrounded by your friends; then again, you can’t discover satisfaction even in your estate in the event that you are far away from others.

Types of Friends:

There is variety everywhere, so why not in friends. We can see different types of friends during our journey of life. For instance, your best friend at school is someone with whom you just get along the most. That friend, especially in the case of girls, may just get annoyed even if you talk to another of your friend more than her. Such is the childish nature of such friendships that at times it is difficult for others to identify whether you are best friends or competitors.

Then there is another category of your siblings. No matter how much you deny, but your siblings or your elder brother and sisters are those friends of yours who stay on with you for your entire life. You have a different set of friendship with them as you find yourself fighting with them most of the times. However, in times of need, you shall see that they are first ones standing behind you, supporting you.

There is another category of friends called professional friends. You come across such friends only when you grow up and choose a profession for yourself. These friends are usually from the same organisation and prove to be helpful during your settling years. Some of them tend to stay on with you even when you change companies.

Friendship Examples from History:

History has always taught us a lot. Examples of true friendship are not far behind. We have some famous example from history which makes us realise the true value of friendship. The topmost of them are the Krishna and Sudama friendship. We all must have read or heard as to how after becoming a king when Krishna met Sudama, his childhood friend, he treated him with honour even though Sudama was a poor person. It teaches us the friendship need not be between equals. It has to be between likeminded people. Next example is of Karna and Duryodhana, again from the Mahabharat era.

Despite knowing the fact that the Pandavas were his brothers, Karna went on to fight alongside Duryodhan as he is his best friend and even laid down his life for him. What more example of true friendship can one find? Again from the same era, Krishna and Arjun are also referred to as the best of the friends. Bhagavad Gita is an example of how a true friend can guide you towards positivity in life and make you follow the path of Dharma. Similarly, there are numerous examples from history which teach us the values of true friendship and the need to nourish such for own good.

Whether you accept or deny it, a friend plays an important role in your life. In fact, it is very important to have a friend. However, at the same time, it is extremely important to choose the friends wisely as they are the ones who can build you or destroy you. Nonetheless, a friend’s company is something which one enjoys all through life and friends should be treated as the best treasure a man can have.

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How Friends Influence One Another–For Better or Worse–in High School

Please try again

High school students face many of the same friendship dynamics as elementary and middle school students, yet friendship operates in distinct ways in these later adolescence years. The buffering effect friends provided in earlier childhood, for example, seems to disappear. “Not only did the presence of friends not reduce stress,” writes Lydia Denworth in the 2020 book Friendship : “It made things worse. Cortisol levels went up.” 

By the time students reach high school, friendships become more stable. “In middle school, it’s unusual for an individual to maintain the same group of close friends over the space of 18 months,” says B. Bradford Brown, an educational psychology professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison: “In high school, that is no longer the case.” 

Likely because  individual identities are more solidified , older teens  tolerate greater dissimilarity  in one another. As a result, compromise and collaboration increasingly take the place of conformity.

Like friendship churn, concern over one’s reputation in broader groups peaks in middle school (and early high school). That leaves most high school students relatively less worried about their larger reputation and more focused on the social dynamics within their chosen peer groups, Brown says. It’s a much more adult-like approach. Though we care about being popular our whole lives, many of us begin to focus more on the likeability aspect of popularity than the status side of things as we age, says Mitch Prinstein , a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina and author of Popular . 

A shift in the primacy of romantic partners vis-a-vis friends takes place as well. Over the course of mid-to-late adolescence, romantic partners “increasingly rival and eventually surpass friends in terms of closeness,” says  Brett Laursen , a child psychology professor at Florida Atlantic University. By the tenth grade, teens tend to interact more with romantic partners than anyone else, and research Laursen has been part of shows that as adolescents become involved in romantic relationships, their drinking increasingly mirrors that of their partners rather than their friends.

Peer influence as a positive?

As a predictable corollary, romantic partners begin to exert more influence than friends in high school, and friend groups more than larger crowds.

Most educators know the basics of peer pressure. One famous study showed that the number of one’s friends using drugs is the biggest determinant of drug use. We also know that when peers are present, adolescents take more risks (for example, teenage males drive faster in the presence of other teenage boys). 

But recent research reveals a twist: It’s not necessarily because of any direct egging on. Just presence is enough, because the reward centers of adolescents’ brains are more active with peers than when alone, according to the research of Temple University’s Laurence Steinberg . For her book, Denworth tracked him down as well as Sarah-Jayne Blakemore , a professor of psychology and cognitive neuroscience at University of Cambridge, who explained the academic upside: “Risk taking in an educational context is a vital skill that enables progress and creativity.” 

That’s just one positive lens on peer influence . Scott Gest , a University of Virginia professor, says: “People talk about negative peer influence … but they neglect the pretty substantial literature that shows a lot of negative behavior of high school kids is discouraged by friends. There is a lot of very positive pressure that peers apply, like, ‘No man, that’s stupid.’” This “obstructing” is one of the many underreported modes of peer influence, Brown says. There’s also teasing, reinforcement such as laughing or nodding, and creating situations that facilitate a certain type of behavior, like throwing an unchaperoned party. None of these modes is inherently good or bad, Brown points out. A teen could just as easily create a situation conducive to altruism, like asking a friend to meet them at the food pantry before a concert, knowing full well they’ll end up handing out meals for a few minutes—or cracking a joke about tongue brushing that reinforces oral hygiene.

“Behavioral display,” or modeling that leads to emulation, is another type of peer influence. In one 2018 study of college freshmen, researchers found “having friends with higher propensities to study is predictive of receiving higher freshman grades.” Because the study looked at both assigned roommate pairings and chosen friend groups, the researchers were able to show the effect wasn’t just a reflection of “selection bias,” with studious kids having already chosen to befriend each other. Hanging out with someone studious, they concluded, caused adolescents to study for more hours and post higher grades. The findings confirm previous research showing a correlation between how a child views the importance of doing well in school and how their friends do. 

Similar effects have been demonstrated for volunteer work and health-promotive behaviors, such as exercise, Prinstein says. Positive change has also been documented in high school students dating high-functioning peers.

What does all this mean for educators? Influential students can be explicitly tapped to improve classroom dynamics. In one program , kids were trained to publicly encourage anti-conflict norms. Disciplinary reports of student conflict dropped 30% over one year. This success may be owed in part to the fact that the program enlisted kids’ help. Efforts that engage teens in actual, real-life tasks have been the most promising when it comes to changing the content of the values transmitted within adolescent peer groups. Other successful efforts to “benevolently exploit peer influence,” as Prinstein puts it, include using small group discussions to combat bullying and drinking.

Why meddling can backfire

Ready for another twist? In the anti-conflict norms study, the effect among kids was stronger when the messengers were popular, but were popular for their likeabaility, not status. 

Laursen, who is also editor in chief of the International Journal of Behavioral Development , helps explain why: “Influence within friend pairings is unilateral and unidirectional, flowing to the child who has the potential to have more friends outside the relationship.” That means, “if I’m better liked, and I drink less than you, your rate of increasing drinking is going to slow down,” he says. But it cuts both ways . Delinquency, for example, tends to increase when a less-accepted child befriends someone more delinquent. When it comes to academic improvement, Laursen says, “if it’s the less-liked peer doing better in school, forget about it.”

For this same reason, he says adults must “tread carefully” in trying to manipulate friendships. It’s just very hard from the outside to know what a kid is and isn’t getting from interactions with a peer: “Let’s say you are a parent and you have a child who’s hanging around with somebody you think isn’t the most desirable friend in terms of their attributes. But perhaps in this friendship your child is the one holding all the cards; everybody is trying to be like your child. If you disrupt that friendship, there’s going to be another in its place, and now you may have put your child in a position where they are the susceptible one. You can make them more vulnerable to negative peer influence than they were before.” (Add on top of that research showing that teens who are alienated from their close friends become more aggressive.)

Even greater benefits of cooperation

A cousin of peer influence is collaboration , and high school students get unique benefits from it. Carefully structured cooperative learning experiences have been tied to students exerting greater effort and using higher-level reasoning strategies more frequently, ultimately boosting achievement and decreasing problematic behaviors, according to the research of Michigan State University’s Cary Roseth. What’s more, “in a study of high school seniors,” he reports, “a predisposition to work with peers cooperatively was found to be highly correlated with psychological health.”

The promise of boosted academic and social-emotional learning doesn’t always have to mean group assignments though. Laursen says by high school “many kids hate these sort of paired activities when a grade is riding on the product.” On the other hand, they appreciate the opportunity to work alongside a peer on their own work. Friends are distributed over classes so the bump students see from working with someone they like and trust may be easier to get in a study hall setting where students undertake, in toddler parlance, “parallel play” or “being with.”

Both logistical benefits and moral support can also be fostered in a high school class with no preexisting friendships. One small Australian study of first-year university students showed that when students discussed class content outside of class, they were more likely to progress to second year. Friends provided feedback, reassurance, and encouragement that “increased students’ emotional engagement, their enthusiasm and interest in the course content and in the classroom.” The study’s authors ultimately encouraged teachers to instruct students to talk to each other during breaks, exchange contact information, and consider arranging study sessions.

During distance learning this fall, Mira Debs, executive director of Yale’s education studies program, had students write introductions. She hosted a weekly virtual lunch. One student set up an optional group text message chain for the class. Each of these actions increases a sense of belonging—which in turn boosts motivation —and also provides students with tangible resources. Elizabeth Self , an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University, explains how these college-level findings relate to teens: “If you think about an AP class—high workload, high stress—the way that kids can come together to study, the way they come together to share notes, the way they come together to figure out an assignment …. For those that do, it’s a huge advantage.”

Growing importance of race

“And if you are left out of those groups,” Self continues, “the effect that has for you is not just social but also academic.” She reminds us   that as kids age , they increasingly “ experience the world from a race perspective .” Whether or not they “can be resilient and sustain themselves within systems of oppression in schooling,” she says, “comes down to who their friends are. Do I have a friend that when I feel like a teacher is being racist toward me can affirm that ‘yes, this is happening,’ versus gaslighting me?” Teenagers who have that kind of affirmation “can feel good and whole in the classroom and be successful.” That’s why Beverly Daniel Tatum concludes in Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? that as counterintuitive as it may seem, allowing Black students “the psychological safety of their own group” can actually increase the likelihood that they form friendships outside it, benefitting fully from collaborative opportunities.

Technology a nd distance

With schools across the country closed, child development experts worry most about the future of our youngest learners. After all, high school students already had mechanisms in place for connecting at a distance, practices like exchanging Snapchat videos about the parts of the homework that don’t make sense. 

But Denworth says we can’t discount “Zoom fatigue.” In a recent article for Psychology Today , she describes a book called Relating Through Technology by Jeffrey Hall, a professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas. He told Denworth, “Compared to face to face, texting and using social media, energy use during a Zoom call is higher.” Disruptions like your own image, delays, and cross-talk make video calls more intense. They also heighten loneliness: “Zoom is exhausting and lonely because you have to be so much more attentive and so much more aware of what’s going on than you do on phone calls.”

And even though teens can socialize virtually, Brown says, “the intensity of seeing close friends and romantic partners in person is difficult to give up, so the lack of those face-to-face opportunities is going to create anxiety.” Their developmentally appropriate craving for intimacy is what drives “the way that individuals 18 to 25 are behaving right now,” he says, “having real difficulty engaging in social distancing, wearing a face covering, and staying feet apart.” 

While distance learning may work best for teenagers , everything we know about friendship in late adolescence suggests they too would benefit from in-person learning experiences at the earliest safe opportunity.

This article is part of the “ Friendship in Schools ” series, which explores the complexities of friendship at various stages of learning.

Gail Cornwall  works as a mother and writer in San Francisco.

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15 Prompts for Talking and Writing About Friendship

Questions to help students reflect on the meaning of friendship in their lives

By Natalie Proulx

Who are your closest friends? How much do you share with them? Do you actually like your friends? What have you learned from them?

Below, we’ve rounded up 15 questions we’ve asked students over the years all about friendship. You can use them as prompts for writing or discussion, inside the classroom or out. We hope they’ll inspire you to reflect on your friendships, consider how you can strengthen the ones you have, and motivate you to reach out and make new ones.

Each prompt includes an excerpt from a related New York Times article, essay or photo; a link to the related piece; and several questions to help you think deeply about it. Many of these questions are still open for comment from students 13 or older.

You can find even more ideas for teaching and learning about friendship in our related lesson plan: How Students Can Cultivate Meaningful Friendships Using The New York Times .

1. Who Are Your Friends?

Do you have a “best friend,” a few close friends or a large group of friends? What interests, experiences, passions and circumstances forge those relationships? What are some of your favorite memories or admirable characteristics you associate with your friends?

Use this Picture Prompt to talk or write about your most important friendships.

2. How Alike Are You and Your Friends?

Did you know there is science behind how we choose our friends? Research has shown that we tend to befriend people who are much like us in a wide array of characteristics, including age, race, religion, even our handgrip strength.

In this prompt , you’ll read more about the things that bond us, and then share what you and your friends have in common.

3. Do You Have Any Unlikely Friendships?

Though we tend to connect with people who are like us, sometimes friendship happens with someone we’d least expect. That was the case for Spencer Sleyon, a 22-year-old rapper and producer from East Harlem, and Rosalind Guttman, an 81-year-old woman living in a retirement community in Florida, who met playing the Words With Friends game.

Do you have any surprising friendships like this one?

4. How Much Do You Share With Your Friends?

Do you often express your innermost thoughts, feelings and struggles to those closest to you? Or do you tend to keep those things to yourself? Being vulnerable can be scary, but research shows it’s important for building connections with others.

Use this prompt to reflect on what it feels like to open up to your friends, and how you might try to do more of it.

5. Do You Have Satisfying Friendships?

Are internet friendships as fulfilling as in-person ones? In a guest essay, a writer argues that “The kind of presence required for deep friendship does not seem cultivated in many online interactions. Presence in friendship requires ‘being with’ and ‘doing for.’”

Do you agree? Can online “friends” be true friends? Share your opinion.

6. Do You Have Any Close Friends?

Do you prefer to have many casual friends or just a few close ones? What makes a person a “best” friend? Do you wish you had more close friendships? This prompt explores these questions and more, as well as shares expert advice for developing deeper friendships.

7. How Do You React When Your Friendships Change?

Have you ever become less close to a friend over time? Have you ever felt jealousy when your friend joined another friend group? Have you ever had a friendship just fizzle out? These kinds of changes happen all the time, but they can be difficult to navigate.

Tell us what you do when you feel a friendship start to shift.

8. Do Social Media and Smartphones Make Your Friendships Stronger?

Does being able to stay constantly in touch with your friends via social media, texting and location sharing strengthen your friendships and make them easier to maintain? Or does it do the opposite? Weigh in with your experiences on this prompt .

9. Do You Like Your Friends?

It may sound like a strange question, but a 2016 study found that only about half of perceived friendships are mutual. That means you might not even like someone who thinks of you as a best friend. And vice versa.

Is this is true for any of your relationships?

10. How Often Do You Text Your Friends Just to Say ‘Hi’?

When was the last time you texted, called, emailed or messaged a friend just to say “hello”? Research suggests casual check-ins might mean more than we realize. Do you underestimate how much your friends would like hearing from you?

Read what experts have to say and then share your thoughts.

11. Is It Harder for Men and Boys to Make and Keep Friends?

American men appear to be stuck in a “friendship recession,” according to a recent survey. Less than half of men said they were truly satisfied with the number of friendships they had. The same study also found that men are less likely than women to seek emotional support from or share personal feelings with their friends.

Does this reflect your experience? Weigh in.

12. Do You Have Any Intergenerational Friendships?

“When applying to my job, I had no idea of the friendships I would be making with 70+ year old women. They teach me new things every day while I hear their life stories and things they have done,” Laura from Ellisville wrote in response to this prompt.

Do you have any friends who are significantly younger or older than you? What do you think we can gain from these kinds of intergenerational friendships? Tell us here.

13. Have You Ever Been Left Out?

Imagine it’s a Saturday. All your friends told you they were busy, so you’re sitting at home, alone, mindlessly scrolling through Instagram. But then you see a post that stops you in your tracks. It’s a picture of all of your friends hanging out together — without you. This is what happened to Hallie Reed in her first semester at college.

Has something like this ever happened to you? Use this prompt to talk or write about how it felt.

14. What Have Your Friends Taught You About Life?

“My friends taught me different perspectives on life.” “My friends have taught me to not care what other people think.” “My friends have taught me to be myself.”

These are just a few of the responses teenagers had to this prompt. What have your friends taught you?

15. Have You Ever Had a Significant Friendship End?

Few relationships are meant to last forever. In a guest essay, Lauren Mechling writes that “even bonds founded on that rare, deeply felt psychic connection between two people” are “bound to fray.”

Have you experienced this with someone with whom you were once very close? What happened? Share your story.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.

Natalie Proulx joined The Learning Network as a staff editor in 2017 after working as an English language arts teacher and curriculum writer. More about Natalie Proulx

“How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie Essay

Introduction.

Despite the fact that the book How to Win Friends and Influence People was written rather long ago, it is still applicable to the contemporaneity and to the modern communicational patterns. It is a compilation of advice that can be used notwithstanding the setting. In particular, the principles proposed by the author can be useful both in everyday circumstances and in work life. Importantly, to be able to apply these guidelines correctly, it is essential to review and analyze them.

It should be noted that the first chapters of Part Three raise such basic elements of communication as argumentation, respect to interlocutors, and the conduct in a situation when another person is wrong. These chapters are of particular importance since many people do not realize the influence of possible miscommunication on the subsequent events. The author of the book emphasizes that “nine times out of ten, an argument ends with each of the contestants more firmly convinced than ever that he is absolutely right” ( Carnegie , 1981, p. 120). Notably, this statement reflects the idea that constructive discussion or exchanging ideas is more functional and efficient rather than trying to persuade someone that one viewpoint is correct while the other one is false. This is a significant guideline for me since I tend to distinguish the right direction from the wrong one instead of working jointly and collaborating with others to find a path that is effective and feasible.

The two approaches that I consider to be the most important are the idea that it is essential to evaluate the situation from the other person’s standpoint and the need to be sympathetic towards another’s ideas and perceptions. The author stresses out “there is a reason why the other man thinks and acts as he does” ( Carnegie , 1981, p. 175). It can be assumed that any statement has certain underlying reasons that drive someone to think this very way. Therefore, to be able to understand the context and the subjacent reasoning it is necessary to learn the other person’s argumentation, which also implies being tolerant toward perception that might contradict someone’s personal comprehension. In that matter, such an approach will allow eliminating the waste in the work process, respecting the diversity of ideas, and opting and idea that is most suitable (MacGregor Burns, 2012).

According to the text, a successful leader is flexible, appreciative, and respectful. A powerful leader encourages people to share their perceptions and does not criticize directly the inappropriate domains. In addition, a good leader drives the team by his or her own experience and shares examples of his or her failures prior to criticizing someone for wrongful conduct. If I were a CEO, I would follow the principle of employee encouragement and would make queries rather than give orders. As stated by Carnegie (1981), “abilities wither under criticism; they blossom under encouragement” (p. 237). I believe it would help me to create a collaborative atmosphere. In addition, I would be able to exercise different types of power and to become a flexible leader that is both firm and supportive (Dainton & Zelley, 2014).

In conclusion, the guidelines proposed by the writer are indeed helpful and insightful. Nevertheless, I consider the advice from Part Two about being genuinely interested in others to be the most important concept. It is essential to wonder and ask the opinion of others as any type of relationship implies at least two people. If one person is egocentric, all the subsequent activity either will harm the other individual or will not happen at all (Hamilton, 2013). The same rule applies to the work setting since people make a company but not the reverse, and effective communication is the key to success. Any company is a mechanism the parts of which should work jointly; thus, it is essential for them to interact effectively.

Carnegie , D . ( 1981 ). How to win friends and influence people . New York, NY: Pocket Books.

Dainton, M., & Zelley, E. (2014). Applying communication theory for professional life . Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

Hamilton, V. (2013). Interpersonal communication competence . San Diego, CA: University Readers.

MacGregor Burns, J. (2012). Leadership . New York, NY: Open Road Media.

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How to Win Friends and Influence People Essay Questions

By dale carnegie, essay questions.

These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own.

Written by Timothy Sexton

What does the author identify as the sweetest and most important sound in the world to any person and what does he mean?

To any one single individual in the world, nothing sounds as sweet nor deems the subject of conversation more important than the sound of that person’s name. Winning friends is therefore dependent upon the successful subjugation of this characteristic in yourself. This means when you are engaged in conversation with someone—whether individual or as part of a group—the key to influencing them (or just become friends if that is the goal) is a question of power of your own naturally impulses to make yourself the topic. People generally find this harder to actually do than they think. Carnegie is not merely suggesting that you don’t act like a narcissist—most people can handle that task fairly easily—but that you be intensely aware the subtle ways in which you inject your ego into the discourse of everyday. During “water cooler” talk at the office, for instance, when discussing a new movie or controversial season finale of a TV show, instead of making your opinion the subject of comments and replies, you address others opinions and reply—using their name—in a way that makes the discourse seem to be about their perspective. That should be a relatively easy way to apply Carnegie’s advice. Try it sometime and see how easy it actually is.

What are two of the worst sounds to anyone that the author advises strongly against ever using in pursuit of friendship and influence?

The one time that the sound of someone’s name is not the sweetest in the world to them is when that name is succeeded by the words, “You’re wrong.” Carnegie writes about the effectiveness of argumentative language with great clarity: don’t do it. Arguments, he argues, are impossible to win and therefore should be avoided at almost any cost. If, however, avoidance should prove impossible, then there one thing that absolutely, positively must be avoided. Never say to another person, “you’re wrong” even when the facts clearly illustrates they are. Carnegie reasons that when a person hears the words “you’re wrong” they are not hearing “you are mistaken” but rather “you’re being rejected.” Being wrong is too often conflated with being rejected and most people are quicker to recover from the logical thump of being wrong than they are the emotional pounding of personal rejection.

What is the key to having the whole world with you rather than walking a lonely way?

Carnegie makes it clear what separates those who enjoy a mass of friends and wield pervasive influence from those who do not. The difference comes down to who is capable of successfully inspiring an “eager want” in others and those for whom this capacity is lacking. While Carnegie is more than just a little vague on exactly what is meant by the phrase “eager want” he does provide a quote to help facilitate his perspective. The quote is from Henry Ford and it is essentially argues that the secret of success lies in being able to see things from another’s perspective as well as your own. He also offers up a metaphorical image which is intended to clarify his meaning of a want that is eagerly desired: “It is necessary to bait the hook to suit the fish, not the fisherman.” The meaning of eager want may be vague, therefore, but the point of the assertion not so much: success is much easier when you sell what someone wants to buy rather than trying to make someone buy what you want to sell.

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How to Win Friends and Influence People Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for How to Win Friends and Influence People is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Study Guide for How to Win Friends and Influence People

How to Win Friends and Influence People study guide contains a biography of Edward Abbey, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

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Band 7 essay sample: Friends’ influence over young people

Essay topic

Friends have greater influence on youngsters than parents and teachers. Discuss

Essay submitted by the student

Children’s choice of their role model is a complicated process that is governed by circumstances and personality. However, I believe that choosing to follow like-minded friends’ influence has become the dominant trend amongst our children. Thus, I would have to concur with such an observation.

There is a significant generational gap between youngsters and their parents. Due to the recent revolution in communications, which is embodied in the invention of the internet, mobile phones and laptops, children are indirectly compelled to embrace a more globalized culture. Hence, parents find it difficult to communicate with their children as parents’ and their children’s background becomes too different from each other’s. For example, a parent born in the 50s will find it difficult to understand pop and rock culture that seems to be widespread amongst today’s youth.

Circumstances change individual’s choices. Parents tend to want their children to replicate their methods and approachs in life. However, children find difficulty in complying with their parents’ wish to adopt their methods as circumstances have changed. As a result, children would abandon his parents’ ways and follow other like-minded people’s ways. For example, parents usually would want their children to marry earlier. This is not applicable nowadays due to a more challenging economic situation.

In conclusion, children, compelled by circumstances and a more globalized environment, would have to abandon their parent’s advice as it has become no longer applicable in our world. This might seem like a negative thing, however, I believe that it is a peculiarity of a more independent generation that is able to think critically.

(262 words)

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In What Ways Do Your Friends Influence You?

Posted in Insights , Motivational , News

Your friends influence you far beyond how they make you feel in the moment and life. In fact, they can even contribute to how long you live!

The friends you choose to have in your life undoubtedly play a significant role in who you are and who you become. They influence you socially, physically, financially...in just about every way you could imagine!

And it's not just in the moment as you're spending time with them. Even if you're laughing together, bonding, or otherwise enjoying yourself, their influence can last long after you're done visiting. 

Some studies even say that the right friends lower the risk of disease by reducing blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol.

The late Jim Rohn wrote that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.

It's true, the company you keep says a great deal about you.

Your Friends Influence You – Choose Them Wisely

The friends you have in your life can impact what you end up achieving in your life. If you have specific career aspirations or a desire to increase your education, it's invaluable to ensure they support who you are and what is important to you. They don't necessarily need to be on the same life path or hold the same dreams. But they need to be a positive support system and bring value to the relationship. 

Considering the way you think, feel, and behave is significantly influenced by your friends – it's imperative we choose our friends wisely. They are your people and are your most vital asset. We talk more about this in this post.  

Be careful of who you surround yourself with.

When it comes to our friends, Amy Morin advises the five reasons you should be careful who you surround yourself with:

• Strong-willed friends can increase your self-control.
• Fewer friends increase the likelihood you'll take financial risks.
• Too many social media connections can increase your stress level.
• Close friends could be the secret to longevity.
• Friends can greatly influence your choices.

Relationships thrive on optimism.  For more on optimism and the power of positivity, click here . 

It's an attitude that draws people to you. Negative people try to pull you down to their level. Most of us want to be near those who raise us up. Do you want to associate with those who bring you down, or do you want to be near those who build you up and inspire you? 

I choose to be around people who share my values and people I aspire to be like.

Friends and longevity

Let's talk more about reason #4 it's so essential to choose friends wisely: friends influence you AND even how long you might live.  Compelling research that looks into the longest-living cultures found a significant disparity between things like the foods they ate, where they lived, and how much they exercised. What wasn't different, though, was that each of the longest-living groups centers on meaningful social relationships.  In fact, another study of "309,000 people found a lack of strong relationships increased the risk of premature death from all causes by 50% – an effect on mortality risk roughly comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and greater than obesity and physical inactivity."

We may need to let some friends go to have a more meaningful life. It's hard to do, of course. But we need to consider how compatible they are with our values. You will quite possibly start acting like the people you surround yourself with. Yes – friends influence you THAT strongly.  But remember, it's not for us to tell people what we see as their shortcomings. We won't singlehandedly change them or their life. We don't have that power. But we do have the ability to be the person we want to be. 

If we spend time around people who are averse to our values, we run the risk of becoming more like them. And, fair or not, we will also be judged in life by the company we keep.

Select friends who inspire, share your values, and challenge you to become your best! When you understand how your friends influence you, it becomes even clearer why choosing them wisely matters so much. Be sure to check out  many more motivational blogs here . If you'd like to take an emotional intelligence assessment,  check this out.

This article was originally published on march 6, 2017, and has been updated (september 2020)..

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Friends have more influence than family on teenagers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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With the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, in the near future companies will begin reducing the number of employees working for them and use AI to get jobs done instead, eventually leading to massive unemployment worldwide.

Some people think that students benefit from going to private secondary schools. others, however, feel that private secondary schools can have a negative effect on society as a whole. discuss both these views and give your own opinion., some children spend hours every day on smartphones. why is this the case do you think this is a positive or negative development, some people believe that it is best to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. others argue that it is better to try and improve such situations. discuss both views and give your own opinion., do you agree or disagree with the following statement only people who earn a lot of money are successful. use specific reasons and examples to support your answer..