The Power of Friendship

Friends have a powerful influence and effect on everyone. No matter what your circumstances are, whether it is your state, your country, your looks, your financial state, or even your age, friends always influence you one way or another. Sometimes people hit it off immediately and are instant friends, sometimes people meet at a very young age and grow up together, but through time and space their friendship diminishes and what was once a bright flame becomes an extinguished pile of ash. I have experienced one such relationship.
When I was very young, I met someone who later became my best friend. We spent almost every waking hour together. When my parents would go on vacation, I would stay with her. When I was upset, any reason that it might have been, I knew I could look up to her and go to her with my troubles, and she would always bring me peace and comfort. I often wondered if I deserved such a friend. One who was willing to go any length for me, and lift the burdens from my shoulders. I also was willing to listen to her problems in return. One day, everything turned and before I knew it, she didn’t even acknowledge my existence. I then realized that there be another friend out there for me.
There was indeed another friend waiting for me. Just at the time I was abandoned by one friend, a new best friend appeared. Most people would describe us as inseparable. When I had surgery this summer, she always went out of her way to help me. She came to see me in the hospital multiple times, watched movies with me, fed me, and now carries my bags to school. If we have are in an argument, we can communicate and express are frustrations respectfully, and can always resolve the situation. We are always able to forgive each other and agree. Since I am the youngest in my family by many years, she serves as a sister to me. She always wants the best for me, even when I don’t always agree. I know I can always trust her to listen to me. I have learned several things from both kinds of friends.
Through these two sets of experiences though one close friend turned against me, one close friend is willing to do anything for me, I have learned what qualities I want my friends to have, and what qualities I want to have myself, as a friend to others. The qualities of a good friend include honesty, loyalty, a willingness to serve, and kindness. Throughout my life I will seek out friends who are positive, and trustworthy. I will seek out friends who are selfless. I will seek out friends who choose integrity over popularity, and who choose friendship over fashion. I will try to be one such friend.
Friends have a powerful influence especially in my life, since I don’t have siblings growing up with me. Some friends are selfless, some are selfish. Some friends have popularity, some have integrity. I will seek out friends with positive qualities, not ones with negative qualities. Some friends are better than others, but I will try my hardest to seek good friends, as well as be a good friend myself.