Category: Friends

The Internet offers many opportunities for people, one of which is the opportunity to have fun and, at the same time, meet new people from different backgrounds without leaving the comfort of their own homes. Online gaming is one example of people having fun online, and it has become a popular form of entertainment among people of all ages. However, it is not only a playground for them; it is also a place to socialize. Some researchers believe that online gaming can have both positive and negative effects on users. Adverse impacts may include harassment, verbal abuse, physical threats, and sexual harassment of female gamers. Conversely, some studies suggest that positive results include making friends, finding accepting communities, and discovering new interests. This essay will use the example of Richard, a former online gamer to discuss the friendship aspect of online gaming. Richard’s experience demonstrates that cyberspace accelerates the formation of friendships and, as in the offline world, enables people to have meaningful and beneficial interactions. However, what about conflict? How do online friends handle it? Does the occurrence of conflict mean the end of a friendship?

One of the advantages of online friendships is that they can develop much quicker, as the Internet enables people to gather together in a particular, virtual place. For instance, online communities such as blogs, virtual worlds, and gaming are accessible to everyone. Anyone can join based on their interests, allowing people to meet others who have the same hobbies as them. These specialized groups enable members to interact with one another, effectively exchanging ideas, giving advice, collaborating, or playing collectively. Through shared interests, participants are able to rapidly explore other topics and learn more about each other’s preferences and beliefs, facilitating the development of friendships (Amichai-Hamburger, Kingsbury & Schneider, 2012, p. 34). Similarly, researchers in another study have noted that “cyberspace offers immediate access to more people, and similarities in interests and ideals are more easily detected” (Ben-Ze’ev, Schneider & Amichai-Hamburger, in Amichai-Hamburger et al., 2012, p. 34). For example, during the interview with Richard, he revealed his fondness for poker. This interest has led him to the gaming community, where he was able to have fun, socialize, and ultimately make a few friends. When asked about his experience interacting with other gamers, he said, “After playing together regularly, the discussions became more and more personal, from Poker to general things that were going on in our lives or personal aspects of our lives” (Richard, personal communication, September 14, 2019). Richard was specifically referring to his intimate friend Sue, a Canadian woman whom he met online while playing poker. Thus, it appears that Richard’s experience supports these claims.

Online friendships can be as meaningful and beneficial as those in the physical world; however, due to the difference in circumstances, the advantages can vary. In the offline world, people can spend time together and enjoy doing things physically, whereas, in online friendships, entertainment is restricted to Internet activities. Nevertheless, people can still enjoy themselves online. Virtual friendships may not allow for physical interaction, but because of the anonymity involved, intimacy develops much faster. Studies suggest that the anonymity provided by the Internet promotes intimate revelations between individuals (McKenna et al., Schneider & Amichai-Hamburger, in Amichai-Hamburger et al., 2012, p. 35). For example, Richard said, “She had been a bit vulnerable because her husband and daughter had, unfortunately, passed away in a car accident” (personal communication, September 14, 2019). Does this statement back up the researchers’ claim above? Is it because of anonymity that Sue confided her traumatic experience to Richard? Possibly. Richard questioned whether, if they had met in the physical world, Sue would have revealed this to him at the point when she did. She may have held it back until later when the friendship had become more established. Being able to provide each other with assistance in times of difficulty is one of the benefits of having friends. However, can an online friend do so? In Richard and Sue’s case, yes; he was able to provide emotional support. As Amichai-Hamburger et al. (2012) have noted, “online social support has been shown to proffer the same benefits as offline support, including improved social and emotional wellbeing, and more active coping strategies” (p. 36). Thus, as in the offline world, online friends can also enjoy and support each other through the Internet.

In any friendship, conflict can happen, and this is perhaps even more likely in online friendships due to the risk of misreading. How do online friends deal with conflict? When Richard was asked about negative experiences with his online friend, he recollected the time when Sue flew to the city where he lived without telling him. He said, “I never understood why she did not tell me that she was planning to come or contacted me while she was in my city” (Richard, personal communication, September 14, 2019). According to Kruger, Epley, Parker & Ng (in Amichai-Hamburger et al., 2012), miscommunication may occur due to the absence of signals in digital interactions (p. 37). Could that be what happened here? Sue may have misinterpreted something Richard said or did not say, which prompted her to withdraw her a perhaps intended surprise visit. Richard never had a chance to find out, because after that, Sue decided to stop playing poker online, which was their only means of communication. A recent study suggests that effective handling of disputes over the Internet does happen (Amichai-Hamburger et al., 2012, p. 37). Surprisingly, resolving conflict online is not at all unfamiliar to people. Research has “found no differences in participants’ use of four types of conflict resolution strategy with online versus offline friends” (Buote et al., in Amichai-Hamburger et al., 2012, p. 37). Thus, if Sue had not suddenly disappeared and instead communicated with Richard, their friendship might have continued.

To conclude, cyberspace may simplify and speed up the development of friendships due to its ability to bring people together in specific groups, such as in gaming communities. Through these online communities, people are presented with opportunities to discover like-minded individuals to connect with. As they do in the offline world, online friends can do things together and have fun, as well as provide various forms of support to one another. Additionally, they too can develop profound connections, perhaps more so than in the physical world, owing to the anonymity of the Internet. Furthermore, if people wish to establish long-term friendships, they can do so online, since online conflict resolution can be achieved in the same manner as in the physical world. Thus, it seems that both online and offline friendships are meaningful in their own way; each has its particular advantages and disadvantages. The good news is that people do not have to choose one; they can have both virtual and face-to-face friendships for different purposes and benefits.

Most people have many friends, however, not all friends are the same. Friends are a vital part of our lives and are important to have because they will be there to love and support us during good times and bad times. Anyone who spends time with their friends knows that each friend has a different personality and traits of their own and serves a different purpose in our lives and each friend is important and can bring joy and happiness to our lives. Friends usually fall into one of three categories: acquaintances, social friends, or best friends.

We have friends we occasionally see or talk to but not on a daily basis. These friends are usually seen in passing and are called acquaintances. We know their faces and names but do not know any personal details about their lives. Acquaintances are someone we may only know socially. These are people that we speak to only if we run into them at the grocery store, school functions, social gatherings, or people we work with. We say hello and may ask them questions about work, their family, or the weather and move on. We don’t discuss personal details, secrets, or serious topics with an acquaintance and don’t make plans to see each other on a personal level. Another example of an acquaintance is someone that is a friend of a friend who you don’t hang out with unless the mutual friend is also present. This is the person who is close friends with our close friend but the two of us are not close.

Social friends are friends we see more than acquaintances. We spend a lot of time with our social friends as we usually see them often, or even daily, in social settings. Social friends are closer than acquaintance friends and are friends we make plans to meet with occasionally. We know more about our social friends than we do about our acquaintances. These friends can be co-workers, classmates, or someone we have known for only a little while. We may share hobbies or other interests and as we spend more time together, realize we have things in common. A social friend can be someone we work with and have lunch with on occasion. Social friends are someone you may hang out with outside of work or school and do non-related work and school-related activities. Social friends have the potential to become best friends as we spend more time with them. Social friends can be depended on to keep their word and make an effort to help in times of need. Social friends may ask for favors but will gladly complete favors in return.

These first two types of friendships can be easily broken as these friendships are usually based solely on pleasure and usefulness. Two people’s common interests can change and these friendships can just fade away. These are friends that people have no problem walking away from if the things they have in common are no longer.

Best friends are friends we have known the longest and possibly grew up together and are like family. This is the friendship that lasts a lifetime. These are friendships that are hard to come by. A best friend can be our spouse, partner, or another family member. Best friends share a mutual love and respect for each other. We share our deepest secrets with a best friend. These friends know everything about us and we know everything about them as no topic is off limits. We have no hesitation in sharing our thoughts and feelings with them. We know each other’s habits and know when there is something wrong. Best friends have no problem correcting each other when one is wrong or pointing out flaws in each other and suggesting solutions without getting angry with one another. Most people will tell us what we want to hear but a best friend will tell you what you need to hear. Best friends can also have the potential to influence our decisions. We mostly hang out with our best friends outside of work or school and do non-work and non-school-related activities together. Best friends are dependable and will always be there to help each other. They are always there to lift you up. Best friends are always there to console you through the bad days and to help you celebrate the good days. We may not see or talk to our best friends on a daily basis but we are able to pick up where we left off from the last time we saw or talked to one another. Best friends are the type of friends that are always around no matter the storms or disappointments that come along in our relationship. Best friends are here to stay no matter what.

In conclusion, most people have these three types of friends in their lives and each type of friend serves an important role in our lives. Without friends, we would be lonely and unhappy. Friendships are necessary for our emotional and mental well-being. To thrive in life, it is helpful to have friends of varying degrees. Having friends of all types brings satisfaction to our lives and allows us to engage in different ways with different people. Having different types of friends also brings diversity into our lives and engages us to look at different perspectives of life. Friends, regardless of type, can bring joy to our lives and should be considered treasures. People should consider themselves fortunate to have different types of friends in their lives.

…And then when I was 13, I signed up on the website called “Mafia Online”. I could not even imagine this game can drastically change my life. I wanted just to have fun for a few hours… Instead, this thing turned into something really big and important for me. This is a very sensitive topic, my dear readers, so, I hope you forgive me if my thoughts and/or memories sound a little bit messy.

I will start from the very beginning. Yeah, for a few weeks, it was just a game, I just entered a game and had fun as I wanted to initially. Then I found my first friend there! We stopped communicating with her for a long time ago but I will always remember her. She’s shown me that thanks to the Internet we can find our true soulmates as it may be a little bit difficult when you’re surrounded only by a specific number of your classmates/colleagues/etc. Another friend of mine from there once said that “I do not understand why people consider Internet friendship to be bullshit. After all, you just can’t get rid of those who are physically near you, for example, at the university or at work… as ridiculous as it sounds. It seems I like these people, but I am not sure whether I would even talk to them if I had not been forced to. And you… I’ve chosen you myself because you’re cool. And I don’t care how far you are. You’re better than everyone “near” me.”

The Internet removes a little bit (okay, not a little bit, but dramatically) an age barrier between people. So, basically, I could talk on equal terms to those who were 5-15 years older, you know. The closest ones to me knew the problems and fear my parents and real friends didn’t. And that’s not because I don’t trust my parents, huh, that’s because it’s always easier to share intimate things with those who are far away. Well, to my mind, at least. They have always supported and helped me with everything that happened in my life.

Wow, here I have to recall an interesting thing. I forgot to mention that in the beginning, my dear readers, but that is the Russian project. And the number of Ukrainians there is approximately 30-35%. The interesting thing is our Euromaidan revolution. Here the number of my Russian friends has reduced like hell; )) That was the second event that dramatically altered my thinking, by the way, but this time I’ve chosen Mafia to write about.

While I was growing up, I encountered more and more interesting people there. I wasn’t playing Mafia anymore, I just logged in to talk about everything that bothered me. I know that sounds like I was a geek or something but that’s not true. There I’ve learned a few things that cannot be taught in school, I even got my first freelance job in Mafia, lol. When I went to the University, I stopped playing Mafia at all (except for some tournaments once a year because I am a valuable team player there, you know, haha) but continued to keep in touch with almost everyone on Telegram. Oh, by the way, we used Telegram long before it became mainstream in Ukraine…

When I met my first Internet friend in real life, I thought I was going to faint. That was the girl whose quote I mentioned a few paragraphs above. I don’t know how to describe my feelings properly; I just want to tell you that Mafia taught me one of the most important things in life. That is the ability to value every single moment you have. Yeah… Because everything that’s good, will disappear sooner or later and your memories will be all you have.

I’ve met a few people from this world after that episode, I even had a boyfriend from there (who currently lives in the Czech Republic; my dear readers, don’t you even dare to get involved in a long-distance relationship, thank God, I have someone from Kyiv now), and… I can’t explain it in a way everyone understands (I mean I can’t explain how Mafia relates to this, haha), perhaps, but our life is beautiful when you can appreciate what’s given to you. I will stop writing here but I will get back to my journals really soon.

Every friendship has different problems the relationship is overcome and goes through. John Steinbeck’s book “Of Mice and Men” talks about two friends who are traveling in Soledad, California. Both worked together to make their dreams come true during the Great Depression. In the book “Of Mice and Men”, George and Lennie show multiple different themes within their friendship. George and Lennie face the good and bad of their friendship, power, and feelings of loneliness. The two men are both trying to survive through the time while working towards their goals and The American Dream.

One of the main themes going on throughout the novel is friendship. George and Lennie face many obstacles throughout their journey together. They also have a very interesting friendship, which leads them to many issues throughout the novel. In the novel, George says, “I want you to stay with me, Lennie. Jesus Christ, somebody shoot you for a coyote if you were by yourself” (Steinbeck, 13). George has many frustrations with Lennie, but this is all part of their relationship. Lennie’s actions are impulsive at times, and he sometimes does not know how to act. This gets on George’s nerves and happens many times throughout the novel. This is because George is a more serious individual. The men have a very close relationship with each other, but it is also extremely co-dependent. George and Lennie have multiple differences, but it is these differences that make their relationship close and complex.

The novel shows many other examples of George and Lennie’s friendship and their personalities. In the final chapter of the novel, Lennie had a hallucination of Aunt Clara. Aunt Clara said something to Lennie when he saw her, “All the time he coulda had such a good time if it wasn’t for you. He woulda taken his pay an’ raised hell in a whore house, and he coulda set in a poolroom and played snooker. But he got to take care of you” (Steinbeck, 101). What Aunt Clara is saying is that George is caring towards Lennie. George is always putting Lennie over himself, he is a very selfless person. George knows that Lennie can not take care of himself and needs someone there for him as a guide and friend. This quote from the hallucination of Aunt Clara is also showing that Lennie only thinks about himself within his friendship with George. George is always helping Lennie get out of trouble and teaches him how to avoid it. Even though George and Lennie face many difficulties and differences, they still have a strong and powerful friendship. Friendship is a huge theme in the novel and continues throughout the whole book.

Power is also another theme shown within the novel. The scene in the book where George decides to shoot Lennie is one of the main parts that shows power. Power is also given to George and Lennie throughout the novel. George has a lot of power in his choices, actions, and the words he uses. Lennie is constantly asking George questions and seeking guidance from him. This is because George is his friend and is wise. Lennie knows that it will affect George when he does something wrong. Lennie said, “I might just as well go away. George ain’t gonna let me tend no rabbits now” (Steinbeck, 101). Lennie is aware that his choices will upset George. George will threaten Lennie by not letting him do certain things in the future, and this scares Lennie. What Lennie said shows how powerful George’s actions and words are. It shows how much control he has over Lennie and his mentality. Although George has a lot of power mentally and is wise, Lennie has a lot of physical power and strength. Lennie’s physical strength has a lot of power over George, he has a larger build. Even though Lennie has no intentions of using his power of strength in a bad way, he still tends to do so. Lennie is sweet and does not mean to be mean, but he is not understanding his own power. He also does not realize that his actions do not only affect him. In the novel Steinbeck states, “…he shook her; and her body flopped like fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck” (Steinbeck, 91). In this scene, Lennie had used his power in a terrible way. This choice Lennie made is what made George shoot him at the end of the novel.

One of the other themes in the novel is loneliness. Lennie’s selfishness and choices he made led to George being lonely at the end, and throughout the novel. Even when George was with Lennie, he was lonely. George always knew that he could live a better life, but Lennie had always been holding him back. Their friendship and George’s care for Lennie are what kept the two men together. George said, “I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn’t have you on my tail. I could live so easy and maybe have a girl” (Steinbeck, 7). George was lonely with only Lennie in his life and no one else. Life got even lonelier for George when he shot Lennie. Lennie caused George many problems, but even with all the obstacles they faced, they were still friends. There was no way George could leave Lennie on his own. George realized that he was alone after he had just shot and killed his friend. Steinbeck states, “George shivered and looked at the gun, and then he threw it from him, back up on the bank, and near the pile of old ashes” (Steinbeck, 106). It was at this point in the novel that George realized he was really alone. Lennie was the only person he had, and he had just shot him.

The American Dream in the eyes of Lennie and George is what kept their friendship together. They had the idea of purchasing their own land to work on. They wanted to get animals and grow their own crops and food for the animals. Instead of having to work for others all the time, they would be under their own control and power. George never really believed in the dream, but Lennie gave him hope for it to come true. Eventually, though, George realized that The American Dream was unattainable. This realization came to him after Lennie had killed Curley’s wife. George said, “—I think Iknowed from the very first. I think I knew we’d never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would” (Steinbeck, 94). George knew that after what Lennie had done to Curley’s wife, he would not be able to be around very much longer. This is what made George come to the conclusion that their dream was not achievable. Even though the dream was unattainable, it still gave the two men something to work hard for in their friendship.

In conclusion, in John Steinbecks “Of Mice and Men” George and Lennie’s friendship revealed several themes. The themes discussed were very important within their friendship and were the main points of the novel. Altogether, the men may not have accomplished the American Dream, but their friendship stayed strong throughout the entire story. Lennie is now in a better place, where his choices and impulsive strength will not get him into any more trouble. George made a choice, which was good for both him and Lennie in the end.

Work Cited

1. Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. New York, N.Y., U.S.A: Penguin Books, 1994. Print.

“Man’s best friend’ one of the oldest sayings known could and should be different.

Many owners would say “man’s best friend’ even though 90% of pet owners will say they consider their pet as part of their family and quite rightly so. Just as we do with children, when you bring your cat/dog/kitten/puppy into your home we welcome them with open arms and look after them and care for them as best we can. As with babies and toddlers, we feed them, watch them grow, and teach them right from wrong. The same can be said with our pets. Cats and dogs are very bright and do understand us and learn quickly. Just as children do, pets alert us in different ways as to their needs whether it be by barking or your dog may come up to you to get your attention and then proceed to the door and hit it with their paw to advise us, they need out for the toilet. If they are looking for attention and want a clap, they may again come up to you and use their nose to move your hand. They also have many other ways to communicate with us just as our kids do too and through time, we learn these and there is an understanding between us and our pets of these various actions. I am sure almost every dog understands and would react to the questions “Do you want to go for a walk”, and “Do you want a treat”, etc. Cats and dogs are highly intelligent and do have an understanding and great connection with humans which is a fantastic quality.

A number of studies have highlighted the love for a pet from the owners. In a study by Sandra Baker and Randolph Baker in the 1980s, participants who were dog owners were asked to complete what is known as the Family life space diagram (FLSD) in which symbols representing family members and dogs are placed within a drawn circle representing one’s “life space”. In 38% of the diagrams, the dog was placed closer to the self than the other family members! Similar studies of pets’ placements within a family constellation have similar results as pets are quite often drawn very close to the center actually closer than human family members. When asked which one person someone would take to a desert island a surprising number of people say, “my dog” or “my cat” rather than “my husband” or “my wife”!

We all know the real definition of family is either people who are related through a common ancestor or typically two parents and their children which would obviously not include the pet. However, when you take a pet into your home you are bringing them into your family circle and are agreeing to treat them just as you would and as part of your family. Just like your loved ones you care for them and look after them to the best of your ability and would do anything and everything you can for them. The average lifespan of cats is two to sixteen years and dogs are ten to thirteen years. However, it has been known that a dog can live up to even sixteen years or longer, and this in all accounts is a big part of anyone’s life. Pets are a big commitment, but they bring so much joy and happiness into our homes that we don’t look at them as being any different than our own family members. We have had so many good times with them over the years and love them as we do our human family. Making the stereotypical thought of them only being best friends invalid but being much more than something closer than a friend … family.

When pets pass away, just like family members we need to grieve their loss. And it takes time to come to terms with that loss as there is a big void in the family unit just the same as with humans. You see your pet every day. You don’t see your extended family as much as that. Some people after the loss of their pet can never have another pet due to the bond, they once had with the pet. This comes with the memories that one has made with the animal and constant reminders that someone loves them and relies on them which the pet surely does.

As you may have guessed I am a pet owner. I have an Australian Labradoodle named Mollie who is nearly seven years old. Mollie is considered part of our family and just as we do, she has the run of the house and is loved and cared for greatly. We even go to the extent of including her on birthday cards, Christmas cards, etc., and even our extended family gives her own birthday cards, etc. I look forward to coming in from school, etc., and Mollie being there to greet me as I am sure most other dog owners do. She is always so happy to see me, and she runs down the stairs as fast as she can and leaps up to get her cuddle when I return home. I enjoy this as much as she does. Although she cannot hold a conversation with us, we all speak to her and know that she understands when we are in need of comfort and is happy to give us kisses and cuddles. She is a fantastic member of our family and is highly regarded by us all. We love her with all of our hearts, and we would be lost without her for sure. She is and always will be a family member. We hope she is with us for a very long time yet as we have many more great times ahead of us, we all believe.

The last course was the course most anticipated by me and my friend Shaymaa. It was the course where my friend would get her driver’s license and she was so excited that she made plans for both of us. that’s why she always does plan things without even consulting me. She made plans that she would drive me to and from college as soon as she gets her driver’s license.

It was Monday the first time she picked me up from college, she was excited to show off her driving skills to me but I, on the other hand, was slightly scared for my life because she was new to driving and I had a gut feeling that something bad was about to happen.

At first, everything was going smoothly until we reached a turn that she had to take she was supposed to go right but instead, she took a left turn thinking it was the right direction then she stopped in the middle of the road and I thought to myself what is she thinking! what is she doing? Does she have a death wish? Why did you stop in the middle of the road? And do you realize you’re going in the opposite direction? I asked her. She looked at me very confused and said “No I’m not going the opposite direction” I stared at her speechless not knowing what to say, all I wanted to do was slap some sense into her, we were really having this conversation and arguing whether if it’s the wrong way or not in the middle of the road! while any minute speeding cars will be coming our way probably crashing into us and killing us.

Sure enough two cars were coming our way and both cars started honking their horns and flashing their lights at us to move from the road. When my friend saw the flashlights of the cars she finally came to her senses and moved out of the way before anything drastic happened. Thank god it was only a two-way street and not a highway. She moved to a park near a house there was a woman standing there who was looking at us crazy. I bet she thought that these two girls have a death wish.

After we realized what happened we started laughing at the situation. It was honestly a scary moment for me and I thought that I will die right then and there when I saw the cars coming our way.

From that point on I vowed to myself to never let my friend drive me anymore. but obviously, I didn’t keep my promise and I didn’t learn from this experience, and neither did my friend. because we went through near-death experiences like this more than I can count. I think it’s that the two of us together have bad luck.

To be friends is nice, Building up a good bondage with your friends can help you in many ways. Especially when you are in a sad mood, friends are the ones who can mood you up. To be good friends there should be intimacy between the friends. Now as a trending fashion friends are called out as buddies. Buddies make the bond much more closely. A good companionship should always consist of a good rapport with faithfulness and affection towards each other. One needs to respect each other when they are together in terms of friends. We should be concerned about choosing the right friends. There are some who take advantage of us and cheat on our companionship. This is very common in the present world. Cheating one another is very shameful to be called out. We have to check on the person’s attitude and his behavior and we can decide whether he or she can be friends with us forever.

If your friends are showing resentment and show an evil eye towards you they are not your true mates. Many of the mates are not happy when another one is going well in his career. They are only happy when they are better off in their career. These types of friends never appreciate any good you do. They try to give appreciation to another one knowing that it was you who did it. What a fishy nature it is. They would stab you in your back. Some would try to show they are contented with what you do but really they are at an evil eye for your progress. Never be in a relationship with such pals who has a grudge towards you. They show envy towards each other.

If your companion is being the big one among you pointing you down that’s not an ideal friend. To be a perfect buddy both of them together should work. When you are going well in your progress level these types of friends pull you out and direct you to failures. They will never let you go for a better achievement. Once you become a successful man these ones would show hatred towards you in spite of beings friends. They will always guide you to the wrong paths. Doing wrong would make them feel happy. All they want is for you to be called out as a disliked, disrespectful person in society.

There are some companions who hang out only to take advantage of us. What they want is only taken out of having a friendship. They are our friends of the things we own. Like good clothing, vehicles, and a good house. After all, it can be said they stay with us for the money we have. These ones can even play out with our feelings. They are tricky, shrewd ones. Do not tend to ask for any help from them. What they say is different from what they do. They will tell you they are there with you always but that is just a lie to cheat you up and make you believe that they are good ones to associate with.

There are mates who only reflect on their things. They want to do only their tasks. Never care or are concerned about another mate who is by their side at any moment. When you are at your happiest moments, these mates are not by your side. They value only their success. Their mindset is only woven around their future. They never feel for their companions. If they do something wrong they never say “Sorry”. They never accept their downfalls. What they do is always correct. Especially in teamwork, these types of friends make themselves focus more on the other. It is only an “I” subject for them at any moment.

Avoid such kinds of friends, Try to search for the perfect friend for you. It doesn’t matter if it is one or two with the right person. If one is happy with who you are that’s a good buddy. Think accurately and pick up the best-suited companion for you. Start it from today onwards, Do not be late otherwise, you are the one who is going to fall in trouble with unnecessary, unsuitable companionship.

Having a family and being a great person are something valued by many in our society, however, there are many instances where people are the exact opposite. Jim is a secondary character in Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn but arguably a very important character in this book. Jim is a young slave that lives on a settlement off of the Mississippi River. He becomes friends with Huck who is a 13-year-old white boy, and they go on many adventures together. Jim runs away so that he is not sold away from his family who are also slaves. Huck is described as a superstitious young man who shows his loyalty to his family and friends. There are many examples of how he shows this throughout all the challenges of this novel.

He is a very relatable character in many ways. The first is very noticeable, It’s Jim’s loyalty and compassion for Huck. Second, he really wants to do everything he can to be close to his family. The first example of him being loyal to his family is when he runs away. He would risk his life so he wouldn’t have to be sold away from them. Another example is when Jim and Huck are on their makeshift boat going down the river. The majority of the backdrop of the book includes this boat. Jim makes a shelter so Huck doesn’t get wet, showing how Jim is trying to protect him. Huck’s dad beats him and is super insulting for nothing but his own gain. This is what Huck says about his dad “Pap he hadn’t been seen for more than a year, and that was comfortable for me; I didn’t want to see him no more. He used to always whale me when he was sober and could get his hands on me; though I used to take to the woods most of the time when he was around (13)”. Jim treats Huck with respect and tries to do his best to keep him safe.

One of the conflicts that Jim faces in his life is being a slave; there are many instances in the book where he can not do things because he is black. He doesn’t see his family very often and the worry of being sold is a big inner conflict he faces. Something that Huck, being white, does not. Huck and myself in my opinion can be related in many ways. We are both very compassionate and loyal people. Whether it’s to our family or friends, we always hold them close to our hearts. Most people know that my family always comes first. I would do basically anything for them just as Jim does anything for his. If anyone ever were to talk bad about my family, I would be the first to stand up for them, most likely no matter the situation. They have given me all I have and made me the person I am today, and I could never be more grateful. They have also shown me compassion which helps me to be a better person in general.

Something we can learn from Jim is how to be an overall more compassionate person. He shows us that even a person who grew up as a slave and didn’t have the best quality of life can still be just as loving and compassionate. Huck and he grow a very special bond together. Just like how I and my friends grow that same bond. These relationships get us all through our daily lives. They become a key part of each of our support systems

Good evening, and congratulations to the University of Houston NSM Class of 2019! It is so wonderful to be here in the Fertitta Center, surrounded by our friends, families, faculty, and so many others who have helped us achieve the degree we will receive today. Incredible amounts of dedication, hard work, and grit have led to this achievement, and we would not be here were it not for the constant support of our loved ones.

A few weeks ago, I read a joke that said, “Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky, and I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling?” Although the joke was meant to be taken at face value, I started thinking about the ceilings we have experienced throughout our lives that block us from attaining our goals. We’ve struggled with family circumstances, finances, and numerous other challenges to obtaining a degree. Despite this, the University of Houston and our experiences here have constantly been lifting that ceiling for us to see and reach for the stars, or in this case, our future.

UH has made significant strides in improving academics, student opportunities, and research throughout our time here. We’ve witnessed the approval for a new medical school, unprecedented progress in the university’s billion-dollar ‘Here, We Go Campaign’, and huge advancements for student inclusion and advocacy initiated by truly supportive leadership.

However, the real raising of that ceiling has been accomplished by each and every one of the students sitting here today. So many of you have faced significant adversity and still pushed through to obtain your degree. While at UH, I’ve met single mothers, students working two or even three jobs to pay for their tuition while taking a full course load, veterans coming back to school so they can rejoin the workforce, and second-career adults changing their life paths. All of us have reached points during our time here when we have felt like quitting. I can remember long hours at the genetics laboratory, struggling to understand organic chemistry reactions, and sometimes feeling like giving up my entire degree plan just to get a good night’s rest.

Despite this, what has kept all of us going has been the compassion and commitment to sharing the knowledge which is so evident at this university. All of us have made our mark here, whether it is through mentoring programs like the Scholars Enrichment Program, student activism in the wake of national and international events, the sharing of discourse, or even participating in music and drama activities. One of the most vivid examples of this sharing of knowledge is the solar eclipse-viewing party hosted by the UH Department of Physics and the Astronomy Society back in the Fall of 2017. I remember walking by SR1 and SEC and seeing so many students, faculty and staff gathered on the lawn teaching one another about the eclipse and sharing viewing boxes and glasses. That day truly exemplifies what the University of Houston is all about. The diffusion of ideas and knowledge on the lawn that day was just one instance of the commitment and love for learning shared by so many students and faculty at UH.

In addition to shared knowledge, we have been bonded by our shared experiences at UH, as we came together as Cougars and Houstonians to repair our city in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. We shared our commitment to improving the Houston community through many student volunteering groups, such as the Metropolitan Volunteer Program, Student Government Association, and numerous student organizations. We cheered for the amazing Cougar sports teams, including our Men’s Basketball team all the way to March Madness. (Ya woo, Cougar basketball!) We grew together over orientation activities, getting a feel for college life, late nights studying, and finally applying for graduate school or jobs as we approached the end of our time here at UH.

We are blessed to have received such tremendous mentorship from our professors and TAs, advisors, and staff. It is your commitment to our education that has helped us reach where we are today. I would like to take this moment to thank all of the professors, TAs, faculty, and advisors who went above and beyond to help us achieve our goals.

I would also like to recognize all the Spring 2019 NSM graduates. We did it. After all the hard work and times we felt like giving up, we stand today surrounded by our peers, families, and faculty, empowered to achieve our goals in the workforce and postgraduate education. I especially admire all of the students graduating with Master’s and Doctorate degrees today. Through your hard work, you mentored and inspired us more than you know.

A last thank you goes out to our friends and family. Thank you for supporting us through all the challenges we faced, and for believing in us.

I encourage all of us to continue pushing that ceiling and reaching for the stars of our future. Keep cultivating the culture of shared knowledge and ideas that the University of Houston has instilled in us. Approach your career with both pragmatism and excitement. Be a positive influence in whatever career path you choose. And most of all, don’t forget the institution that helped get you there. Congratulations to the NSM Class of 2019, and Go Coogs!

Friendship is one of the greatest blessings that not everyone is lucky enough to have. We meet a lot of people in the journey of life however there are only a few who stay with us throughout our life. My best friend is one such person who has been able to make a positive impact on my life. I and my best friend have been a part of each other’s lives for the longest time and our friendship is still developing. Most importantly, I feel extremely fortunate to have someone as a best friend in my life. His name is Dhrumil Shah. I will be discussing how we became friends and his best qualities.

I want to start my friendship essay with a story about how we became friends. I and my best friend came in as a new admission to the same college. Both of us belonged to the same caste so we had seen each other before. However, we were not able to recollect where. We both were hesitant to talk to each other at first, but gradually we developed a bond. I can recall the first time my best friend tried to talk to me; I rolled my eyes because I thought there was no use and we wouldn’t hit it off. However, we became best friends by the end of the session year surprisingly. We learned so many things related to each other and found out that our taste in music was so similar. Since then, there was no stopping us. We spent most of our time together. We used to help each other out with our studies and visited each other’s homes as well. For instance, as our interests were similar and we both were planning for pursuing a Master, we decided to do it together and luckily we both got admitted into the same university. To date, we are lucky enough to be together and at the same time pursue our careers as well.

Apart from being good at studies, we both take a keen interest in extracurricular activities as well. For that, we always take an active part in various events at school like debates, tabloids, sports events, speech contests, and others. Dhrumil has a keen interest in football. Due to his skills and command, our college team has won the Annual inter-college tournament twice. In extracurricular activities, I love playing cricket. I am a fast bowler. We are both addicted to watching series like Breaking Bad, Peaky Blinders, etc. So, we even spent nights watching series and movies. Through this bond, I learned that family does not end with blood because my best friend was no less than my family.

I feel one of the main reasons why I formed such a bond with my best friend was because of the qualities he possesses. His courage always inspired me to raise my voice against injustice as he always stood up to her bullies. He is also one of the smartest minds in class who doesn’t only excel academically but also in life. I have never seen a dancer as good as my best friend. Above all, I feel the quality that appeals to me the most is his compassion. Whether it is towards humans or animals, he always keeps the same approach. For instance, he saw a poor old woman on the streets one day and he only had money for his lunch. Dhrumil did not hesitate once before giving all of it to the poor lady.

In short, the bond I share with my best friend is one of my most prized possessions. Both of us inspire each other to become better humans. We push each other to do our best and we are always there in need. A best friend is indeed a precious gem and I am fortunate to have found that gem of my life at an early age.