What Is A Friend?
In kindergarten your idea of a good friend was the person who let you have
the red crayon when all that was left was the ugly black one.
In first grade your idea of a good friend was the person who went to the
bathroom with you and held your hand as you walked through the scary halls.
In second grade your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you
stand up to the class bully.
In third grade your idea of a good friend was the person who shared their
lunch with you when you forgot yours on the bus.
In fourth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who was willing to
switch square dancing partners in gym so you wouldn't have to be stuck
do-si-do-ing with Nasty Nick or Smelly Susan.
In fifth grade your idea of a friend was the person who saved a seat on the
back of the bus for you.
In sixth grade your idea of a friend was the person who went up to Nick or
Susan, your new crush, and asked them to dance with you, so that if they
said no you wouldn't have to be embarrassed.
In seventh grade your idea of a friend was the person who let you copy the
social studies homework from the night before that you had.
In eighth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you
pack up your stuffed animals and old baseball but didn't laugh at you when
you finished and broke out into tears.
In ninth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who would go to a
party thrown by a senior so you wouldn't wind up being the only freshman
there.
In tenth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who changed their
schedule so you would have someone to sit with at lunch.
In eleventh grade your idea of a good friend was the person who gave you
rides in their new car, convinced your parents that you shouldn't be
grounded, consoled you when you broke up with Nick [or Drew] or Susan, and
found you a date to the prom.
In twelfth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you
pick out a college/university, assured you that you would get into that
college/university, helped you deal with your parents who were having a hard
time adjusting to the idea of letting you go.
At graduation your idea of a good friend was the person who was crying on
the inside but managed the biggest smile one could give as they
congratulated you.
The summer after twelfth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who
helped you clean up the bottles from that party, helped you sneak out of the
house when you just couldn't deal with your parents, assured you that now
that you and Nick or you and Susan were back together, you could make it
through anything, helped you pack up for university and just silently hugged
you as you looked through blurry eyes at 18 years of memories you were
leaving behind, and finally on those last days of childhood, went out of
their way to give you reassurance that you would make it in college as well
as you had these past 18 years, and most importantly sent you off to college
knowing you were loved.
Now, your idea of a good friend is still the person who gives you the better
of the two choices, holds your hand when you're scared, helps you fight off
those who try to take advantage of you, thinks of you at times when you are
not there, reminds you of what you have forgotten, helps you put the past
behind you but understands when you need to hold on to it a little longer,
stays with you so that you have confidence, goes out of their way to make
time for you, helps you clear up your mistakes, helps you deal with pressure
from others, smiles for you when they are sad, helps you become a better
person, and most importantly loves you!
Pass this on to those friends of the past, and those of the future, and
those you have met along the way... and remember...
No matter where we go or who we become, never forget who helped us get
there.
There's never a wrong time to pick up a phone or send a message telling your
friends how much you miss them or how much you love them.
You know who you are, pass it on to someone who you want to remind. And
thank you for being a friend.