| Show J L n N Ii F. F Friends rl e n d 5 t r. Terri Goolsby Horizon Feature Feature Fea Fea- ture tune Editor Its It's back to school again and for many students ts college is a new experience New experiences experiences experiences ex ex- ex- ex bring new opportunities opportunities opportunities and one of those opportunities is to make new friends As Ive I've analyzed what criteria elevate acquaintances of mine into life tine friends Ive I've noticed a common set of characteristics in those I consider consider consider con con- sider my friends First and foremost they are supportive They accept me lne in totality and support me as an individual with legitimate concerns goals and dreams They allow me the freedom to tomake tomake tomake make decisions about my life even wrong ones without criticism and stand by me while I enact those decisions They m may y point out better al alternatives alternatives alternatives al- al and do it in a way that doesn't not to make me feel wrong for the decisions Ive I've made Second my thoughts feelings feelings feelings feel feel- ings and emotions are important important tant to my Iny friends They listen when I share myself remember remember ber what I say and keep confidential confidential confidential con con- what Ive I've entrusted Confidentiality is important to me Nothing is more lnore cancerous cancerous cancerous can can- cerous to a relationship than breach of trust Nothing rings more lnore hollow in my ears than to have a friend tell me I thought it was in your best interest interest interest in in- terest terest when they've broken a confidence Third just as important as confidence is reliability I need to know my friends will follow through on what th they've committed to If they've said sad they hey will do something ing I expect t them em to to do it If they say they will meet me somewhere at a certain certain certain tain time I expect them to be there I believe a person is only as good as their word and a friendship is only as asgood asgood asgood good as the respect that person person person per per- son has for you Lastly a friend is there when you need them It may be for fora a crisis or just for companion companion- ship You may want to get getaway getaway getaway away and go for a drive and want someone to go with you or you may want someone to study with clean house with or repair your car with ith If you look tired your friend may offer to take your child so you youcan youcan youcan can rest or offer to cancel an evening the two of you had planned A lot to ask for in a friend How do you get a friend like this What does your friend get in return First you have to be willing to be this kind of friend yourself You have to invest yourself in someone else first Not every investment investment investment invest invest- ment will pay payoff off Many will not But when a pay payoff off off off off-off off does come COlne it will be richer than money and the pay-off pay will come COllIe Birds of a feather flock together is a truthful saying Individuals capable of giving deeply of themselves will respond in kind when treated with depth Others Incapable incapable incapable in in- capable of responding with deep commitment and emotion emo elno- tion will fade away What is left will be the richest cream from the milk of humanity the truest long life-long friends with whom you will enjoy a wonderful symbiotic fulfillment fulfillment fulfill fulfill- ment of human needs It isn't the man who dies with the most money who is the richest it is the man luan who dies with the most friends So have fun at school this year Be willing to be a true hue fri friend nd and in the pro process ess cultivate cultivate cultivate cul cul- friendships that will be deep and last a lifetime |
