Buddies for life

Friendship doesn’t happen easily. It takes time to choose someone who gels with you and matches your wavelength. While some youngsters aver that friendship happens accidentally,  others say that they are slow and choosy in picking their friends.

There may not be any hard and fast rule but some youngsters have a list of qualities that their friends must have. While matching wavelengths remains high on the list, good conduct is another thing that most youngsters look out for in friends.  

Ayaz Khan, a first year PUC student, Vijaya Junior College says, “I am particular about choosing my friends. I see that their thought process, behaviour and mannerisms match mine. I find it tough to co-ordinate with them if they have a different line of thinking. Sometimes these different behaviours turn out to be a bane and we end up fighting with each other. Once a fight erupts the meaning of friendship is lost.”

Mutual trust, being there for each other during hard times and no back-biting — are just a few of the characteristics that the young expect in their friends. Sarita, a second year B Com student, Seshadripuram College says, “I’d like my friends to have certain qualities.
I’d expect my friends to not to speak ill of me when I am not around. They should be open and frank and must be willing to discuss any problem with me rather than tell other people. And they must be there when I need them the most,” she says and adds, “my friends must be sportive and adventurous, I don’t like the sentimental, crying ones. They should also have a positive approach towards life.” That’s an exhaustive list!

But not everyone prefers to hand-pick their friends and there are those who are not all that choosy. There are people who make friends easily with people they come across. Akarsh, a second year PUC student at SBMJ College says, “I don’t make friends after analysing their qualities, interests and goals. I keep an open mind before making friends and as time passes by, some of them become close.” He adds, “If we keep certain guidelines to make friends, then we might end up not making friends at all.”