Friendships are more important than you think, and I learned that not from any textbook, but from the ones who stood beside me through the lows and highs of high school. When I look back, I realize that some of the biggest lessons I learned were not from Mr. Egan’s math class or Ms. Rand’s Spanish class or from any classroom, but rather from my friends. The ones I share the conversations in crowded hallways with, the food spilling in our cars from lunch and the ones who give unconditional care and support whenever I need it.
I used to think friendship was just about having fun. And yes, some of the best memories I have involve laughing until it hurt or late night talks around a campfire. However, over time, I saw that the real value of friendship goes much deeper; it’s in the people who stayed when things got messy. Who called me out when I needed it, and listened when I didn’t have the words to explain what I was feeling.
These friendships changed me. They made me more open, more honest and more compassionate. They helped me build the self-confidence I needed in tennis matches or gave me the support I needed when times were tough. And I’ve come to realize something even more important: once you find people like that, you hold onto them. Because as we grow, life pulls us in different directions. People get busy. We change. But the friendships that really matter — the ones that feel like home — are worth the effort it takes to keep. You have to reach out, even when you’re tired. You have to check in, even when everything seems fine. You have to fight the urge to drift, because real connection doesn’t just survive on its own; it has to be nurtured.
I’ve lost some friends along the way, and that hurts, but it’s made me appreciate the ones who stayed even more. So if you have people in your life who see the real you and love you anyway, keep them close. Tell them what they mean to you. Make time, even when it’s inconvenient. Because in the end, it’s not about how many friends you have — it’s about who you can count on when life throws obstacles at you. To this day, I still have great friendships that I’ve had since kindergarten, and I appreciate every memory, laugh and moment we’ve shared along the way.
High school taught me a lot, but this might be the most important lesson: friendships don’t just shape who you are; they help you become who you’re meant to be. And the ones worth keeping? They’re everything.
