Who Defines You?

If you want to know who somebody really is, look no further than the friends they hang out or spend most of their time with. The old adage, ‘birds of a same feather flock together’ is proved true. Usually teenagers will look out for people whom they have a lot in common in order to be their friends. If you look around your class, you will realize that those that are ‘book worms’ are always together in the library and everywhere they go, the proud and the bullies will also have a clique that hangs out alone and move around the school together. The quiet students and spiritual ones will also look for those with whom they share interests. Often times, when teachers realize that a well behaved student is spending time with a crazy one, they will make conclusions that they are getting spoilt and probably report this to their parents. This is because one’s character can easily be changed, ruined or tainted for the worst. When you spend time with thieves, more often than not you will end up as one. When your friends are well-mannered, by far and large, you will also be mannerly. Just like they say that, ‘great minds think alike, walk alike and act alike,’ the reverse is absolutely true. If your friends are those with great minds, so are you; if they are crazy, not focused and undisciplined, so will you be. Teta Denise, a primary six student at Kigali Parents School, says that she loves friends that are serious about their class work. “I love to have friends that love to read their books, obey their parents and respect teachers. I don’t like stubborn friends who don’t respect teachers and themselves because people will think I am like them,” Teta says. Teta confirms the fact that in her school, people of the same character are friends. She said there are both cliques of stubborn and disciplined students. She advises students to make good friends who won’t lead them astray. Leon Rurangwa, a Senior five student and teenager, says that one should always introduce friends to their parents. “Parents have that sixth sense and inner eye. They can easily predict whether your friends are good or bad even after seeing them for just a day. It has happened to me several times when my mom tells me that a particular friend would get me into trouble and it would happen,” explains Ruranganwa. Your friends mostly define who you are and this can be a lasting statement. Choose the right friends who will pleasantly define you! mariakaitesi@gmail.com