Friendship is about the essential principles we uphold, not only about laughing together or having a wonderful time. What we genuinely value in a friend impacts how we connect and find purpose in our relationships by showing who we are and what is most important in life.  

  “Knowing that my friends won’t stab me in the back or do something I won’t like, assures me that our friendship will last,” said sophomore Cristian Duarte.  

  “I would like to think that my friends will be there for me no matter what and won’t talk bad about me to anyone and keep everything real with me and be straight up,” said sophomore Osmel Diaz. 

  “Knowing that I can share my ideas and feelings and be honest without being afraid of judgment matters a lot,” said sophomore Allison Romero. 

  “I like how we can be goofy and have a good time together, yet we can also rely on one another when things get hard, it gives me comfort to know that we will always be there for one another.” said sophomore Montserrat Cerrato. 

  Friendships teach us important life lessons that guide how we grow and understand. They teach us kindness, trust, and the value of supporting one another. Freshman Britney Vergaray says, “Friendships have taught me that sometimes leaning on others is not a sad thing. Having someone you can depend on is a really comforting feeling.”  

   One of the best things in life is to spend time with friends, and depending on their interests, joining in a choice of activities together. “My favorite thing to do with my friends is to hang out, have deep conversations, have a connection with their family, and also get to know them better than I did before to see if we share any interest in any kind,” said sophomore Collin Bonilla.  

  “Making memories while hanging out with them is one of my favorite things to do with my friends knowing we share similar interests and that I could laugh and talk to them for hours without feeling left out,” said sophomore Montserrat Cerrato.  

  The essence of any friendship is trust. It creates a strong starting point of honesty and confidence. Most people could agree that truthfulness, reliability, and open communication are a basis of trust. “When they show truthfulness about their actions and everything, I tell them that would only stay between us,” said sophomore Genesis Carceres.”  

  “Everything depends on the person to be honest, but when you have trust in them, you would tell them most things about you. I feel like in a friendship you don’t have to say everything about yourself, but you can just be honest and straight up,” said sophomore Allison Romero.  

  Having a friend who listens to you without judging, gives you support, and wants to stay connected might all help with feeling supported in a friendship. “It includes respect for one another, loyalty, and a feeling of importance and hearing from both friends,” said sophomore Collin Bonilla.  

  “I just want to feel like we’re both putting in effort and that I can rely on them, especially when things aren’t easy,” said sophomore Osmel Diaz.  

  Do not give up if you have never had a true friendship; they take time, risk, and work on both sides to grow. “Be open to small, unplanned connections; at first friendships may grow in unexpected ways. Find fother people with similar interests but also be open to accepting differences,” said freshman Britney Vergaray.  

  “Don’t rush to change who you are just to fit in because a good friend accepts you for who you are, not just what you can give out. Just as important is learning how to be a good friend, to be honest, to listen without judging, and to be nice,” said sophomore Genesis Caceres.