12

friendship dAy

grATIAn VAS

“True friends are truly life’s

treasures. Sometimes they

know us better

than we know

ourselves. With

gentle honesty,

they are there

to guide and

support us,

to share our

laughter and our

tears. Their presence

reminds us that we are

never really alone.”

— Vincent Van Gogh

F

riends provide you a sense

of belonging, a feeling

of being

valued and

respected

which

helps with

developing

your confidence.

Positive, accepting

and supportive

friendships help

you

develop

into a

mature

adult. They

also provide you

a sense of security

and comfort in being

with others and going

through the same experiences.

Good friends become a

source of information about

the physical and emotional

changes taking place in you.

They provide support in figuring

out talents and interests, social skills,

independence from adults and

problem-solving.

Teen years are often stressful.

Having trustworthy and loyal

friends helps you deal with the stress

and uncertainty that is a normal part

of development. Healthy friendships

provide teens with social support in

dealing with some of the challenges

of growing up.

Friends are also outlets for fun and

excitement. They help you find

healthy ways to have fun outside

home, at school and at the workplace.

While with unhealthy peer influences,

a teen may engage in negative

behaviour, healthy friendships

encourage pastimes that involve no

risk of delinquency or harm.

Challenges

Teens face a number of challenges

as they forge

friendships

in high

school and

beyond.

Friendship

issues may

arise due to

differences

in race,

gender or

socio-economic

reasons. Teens

may not be willing

to speak to others in

a new school or engage

in popular activities

when they move to a new

location.

Supportive friendships

formed when you are a

teen can bolster your self-

confidence and give you

resources to assist with

later periods of your life.

Don’t be afraid to reach

out to others. You should

strive to open up to outgoing

and accepting teens. Should you

become upset due to the challenges

of making friends, your school

counsellor can offer insights into

finding the right group that appeals

to your needs and personality traits.

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