True friends one in a million
Campus Times
April 3, 1998
I have noticed that in recent issues of the Campus Times, the editorial
board has been making an effort to write more positive, uplifting columns
and editorials. Focusing on the good things vs. the bad things here at our
university. So to keep the tradition going, I will write on a positive note
rather than have in a negative piece.
Many of us claim that we have "a ton of friends," and although
that appears to be a positive statement, it can be misleading. Is it the
quantity or the quality of our friendships that really matters?
My freshman year in high school my English teacher, Mr. Shinniefield,
repeatedly told my class not to worry about how long our papers were, "It
is the quality not the quantity that matters." Friends are like English
papers, quality matters more than quantity.
Yes, we may know a lot of people, but are they truly our friends? Do
we confide our hopes, dreams and secrets to each and every one of them?
Are they there for us when we need them to be, waiting with an understanding
and non-judgmental attitude?
Or are these phony friends only there when you have some juicy scrap
of information that they can share with the rest of the school population?
To be honest, I do not consider everyone I have ever met my friend.
Acquaintances is a more accurate description.
They are the people that you say hello to when you pass them on the
way to class and you might stop and have a simple, and for lack of a better
word, shallow conversation with them. Acquaintances are not the people that
you call up when your boyfriend broke up with you at 2 a.m., or when you
aced that final you studied for all week.
This claim that we have a lot of friends stems from that did junior
high school insecurity. If you do not have a grip of friends, then people
will think you are a loser and you will not be a part of the "cool
crowd."
I am a firm believer that it is better to have several strong friendships
rather than a slew of meaningless relationships with fake people who make
fantastic actors, not friends.
I have grown to appreciate my friends more during the last two years.
I have had some troublesome times since I have come to college.
Nothing seemed to be going right and I felt like I did not have anything
to offer.
But my friends came through for me. They have been my rocks, always
there for me when I needed them. They were, and often still, are the shining
stars that brighten even my dreariest moments. They comfort me with their
gentle words of advice, wisdom and often a wisecrack to bring a little cheer
to my day.
I forget sometimes to let the important people in my life know that
I love them and value their presence in my life greatly, and since I have
the I privilege of using these few inches, I would like to say thank you
to my friends -- and they know who they are -- for being a quality friends.
They will never know how much their friendship means to me or how dramatically
they have affected my life.
Each and every one of them is an inspiration to me, and I can only hope
that one day, I will have been the quality friend that all of them have
been to me.
I used to take my friends for granted, but not anymore. I have learned,
or maybe I have just finally realized what true friendship is all about.
So if you have some shinning stars in your life take this opportunity and
let them know how much they mean to you.
Michelle Thornton, a sophomore journalism major, is assistant features
editor of the Campus Times. She can be reached by e-mail at mthornto@ulv.edu.
