Submitted by: Bea Denise Roa & Keisha Danielle Tolentino

The world is full of strangers.  There are billions of people in the planet, scattered and separated by tons of water and stretches of land. Among those strangers are people who stand out, who catch our attention because of the things they share in common, or for the qualities they have and admire in each other.

 Often these are the people we see ourselves reflected in, people we get along well with, simply just people who makes us happy. These people are what we call friends.

Different people form different bonds with each other, and the closeness and intimacy may vary, typical friendships are built with affection for each other. Mutual understanding is also necessary for friendship to thrive, because without understanding each other there can never be any proper communication or vice versa.  Honesty, sympathy, and affection are also key ingredients to a long lasting friendship. The ability to be oneself, express one's feelings, and make mistakes without fear of judgment build the foundation of friendship.

As humans, the need for belonging is irrevocably embedded in our genes. Friends satisfy these needs and reduce uncertainty and isolation. Abraham Maslow, famous for his hierarchy of needs, tells us that having friends is a necessity for self-actualization. Humans not only crave companionship, but cannot go without it as well.  This is why at such an early age, it is almost instinct for a child to automatically make friends. In kindergarten, without having proper social skills, do we not succeed in making playmates? These relationships may not last, but they are the very first steps we take along the way. Even when we haven't fully developed yet, it is natural for us too seek out others, especially the ones in the same age group.

Especially for adolescents, the relationship you build with your friends are probably the most important during those years. During teenage periods, friendships are more intense than friends you meet during your childhood or adulthood. These kinds of friendships are the most crucial part of emotional development for teenagers.

I myself, as a teenager, knows this very well. I am a very open and friendly person, and I rarely hesitate to make friends. I am only shy in very rare moments, and am generally considered loud, boisterous and approachable by people who know me.  Because of this, I've made quite a lot of friendships.  I noticed that during my early years, people I considered as "friends" weren't necessarily people that I actually liked. It was just convenient to label them as friends because I sat next to them in class and spoke with them the most.

As I grew older and (kind of) matured, I learned to make strong bonds with people who I genuinely liked and respected. I went through a lot of friends, groups and barkadas, all who had shared interests, basically had the same opinions in everything and enjoyed the time we spent together. I know for a fact that these friendships I forged are as strong, or perhaps stronger than any blood relationship I have. Friends are your secondary family in life.

 

Even if you have a huge group, or three friends, or perhaps just one, everyone will have friends at some point in their lives. Friends are crucial parts in our experiences that help us mature as time passes by. Some friendships last for life, while some are accidental meetings and summer stories that last for only a season. I know as I go through life, I will continually make friendships, or shed them. Things change and people leave, but somethings always remain the same and some people stay behind. But friendships give us memories to cherish in our lives.