The Importance of Friendship

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.”  – Anon

“What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.” – Aristotle

“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.”  – Anon

“If you have one true friend, you have more than your share.” – Thomas Fuller

“When it hurts to look back, and you’re scared to look ahead, you can look beside you and your best friend will be there.”

“A true friend is someone who knows there’s something wrong even when you have the biggest smile on your face.”

Having a best friend is one of the defining experiences of childhood. My best friend and I have proven to the world that friendship can survive through distance, arguments, and relationships. I met Maria in the lunchroom of Cavallaro Junior High School.  It was 2001 and Maria had been struggling with understanding the new language.  I came up to her, said “Hi” and reached out to shake hands.  She responded in Russian, greeting me and explaining to me that she just came to America and didn’t understand the language. We were in the same class, and had all the same classes. I was assigned to sit with her and help her to understand the learning material. It certainly wasn’t effortless to open up to someone new, to make friends with someone so different. But as time went on, as we became closer, I realized what a great person she is. Throughout junior high school, we were always in the same homeroom class and always had the same classes. We volunteered helping in different offices, and all the teachers became used to seeing us always together. If one of us wasn’t there, we were questioned as to why the other half was missing.
Unfortunately high school separated us, but only physically. We went to different schools, made new friends, and took different classes. Throughout high school we talked almost every single day and saw each other at least once a week. After high school we chose different intended majors and now attend different colleges, she’s in Hunter and I’m in Baruch, and every time we see each other we have a short battle of the Lexingtons, arguing whose school is better. (I think Baruch definitely wins this one.)
She is one of the very few people who can make me happy, or also disturbed. With her, I can be open and be myself; I can tell her anything and everything because I know she will listen, advising rather than judging. I can share my thoughts, secrets, and problems. I can trust her, one of the most important qualities in a friend. Not every person can consider themselves lucky. I know I can. As the saying goes, “If you have one true friend, you have more than your share.”
My best friend believes in me even when I find it difficult to believe in myself.  She tells me what I need to hear instead of what I want to hear. She opens up to me and trusts me with her biggest dreams and worst disappointments. She puts so much thought into our friendship. With her, I share so many good times and so many special memories. She is always kind to me, patient, there when I need her.
Future might throw us farther and farther apart but true friendship can surpass every obstacle and test through time. However different our careers, our lives will be, I know that there is a person in this world who will bring me comfort, put me at ease, cheer me up like no one can. True friends are those who inspire you to become the best you can ever be. They have full confidence in you and won’t rest until you achieve your goal. A saying goes, “Who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure,” and I found mine.