The relationship with a friend has not been properly realized by us. Some do not believe in nurturing friendship as they are by nature aloof and reserved. This nature is not desirable, for, it indicates the lack of sociability. Sometimes parents or teachers may not be able to enforce a point on their child and a friend may come in to help them. I can relate an incident in the life of my relative. In fact he was my cousin. His son was adamant that he would not join the engineering course, but his father insisted that he should join the course as he would have bright professional prospects. Any amount of persuasion by his father did not work. At last his son’s friend intervened and spoke to his friend of the importance of his father’s valuable advice.
His father was very happy that a known problem was solved satisfactorily. After the engineering course my cousin’s son is quite well off with a fat pay. His life changed as his friend took interest in him. There is a saying which tells about the importance of good friendship. It is this: ‘Tell me who is your friend and I shall tell you what kind of person you are.’ Yes, a friend has much to do with the shaping of our character as our parents and teachers. A student should be careful to choose his or her friends. If the friend with whom you are going to establish connection is of bad character slowly but surely you too are affected by him or her.
You may have been a polite, soft-spoken student of gentle manners. Your friend may be dominant, may be rough, roguish and given to evil ways. Your friend will take advantage of your innocence, your softness and may trick you, lead you to a wrong path. He may be a drug addict, he may be a smoker, he may drink and