Ava Blatz

 

How many childhood friendships last forever? The answer is probably very little. I think that this is because when you are a child, forming friendships is very simple. However, as you grow up, you become developed as a person and your thoughts, views, and personalities may change which could lead you to distance yourself from your childhood friends. This is not necessarily a negative thing, I think that some of the best friendships are formed later in life, because you are mature enough to truly appreciate your friend, and to choose what kind of people you surround yourself with. I used to be someone who only had the same friends since I was five, until I met my friend Ashley.

Ashley went to my high school, but we never had classes together and never really talked. However, we both were interested in one thing, dance. We both tried out with our own friends for our school’s kick line team, which was the coolest club that all of the girls wanted to be a part of. However, the team was super strict and the only girls in the freshman class to make the team were me and Ashley. As a shy person, I was extremely nervous to be on this team, where there was only one girl my age, yet I did not quit due to my love for dancing. Ashley and I started to get to know each other during practices. We would make small talk or ask each other questions about the dances. At this time, I had a group of five girls that I had been friends with since kindergarten that I was miserable with. We had nothing in common, and they would shame me for my hobbies. I knew that our group would not last, but I was scared of not having any other friends. As I began to form a friendship with Ashley, I eventually dropped my old friends.

As kick line went on I became closer with Ashley, we started to hangout and text and would constantly talk about our future senior year dreams of being kick line captains together. We shared a passion for dance which was so special. Eventually senior year came around and we became captains together. We hung out every single day after school making up the dance routines, designing the bows and clothing, and making the music mix. We created an amazing dance together that we were so proud of. We truly understood each other, and we began hanging out outside of kick line. To this day we are best friends and cannot picture life without each other.

The reason why my friendship with Ashley is so important is because it is the first friendship that I made when I was an actual “person”, I was not a six year old having playdates set up by her mom anymore, I found a friend who I enjoyed being around. Alok Vaid Menon said, “ i want a world that doesn’t require us to be in a sexual/romantic partnership to be seen as mature (let alone complete).”. This statement resonates with me because I feel like being able to create a beautiful friendship based on love should be seen as mature as a spouse relationship. I am proud of myself for making friends, and everyone should be. I love my friends, and think that our friendship should be seen as valid. Another reason why I cherish my friendship with Ashley is because we are vocal about how happy we are that we became friends. She wrote me the nicest card for graduation, about how much she loves our friendship. This relates to what Lora Mathis states in “Platonic Intimacy”, Hold their hands Tell others you Are proud of them Offer support readilyTake care of the People around you”. I think that if you do not have anything positive to say about your friendship, then it probably is not true, and if you do not feel comfortable enough with a friend to tell them how much you love your friendship, then that friendship should be reevaluated.

Overall, my friendship with Ashley has shown me that I am capable of forming new relationships. I am capable of becoming close with new people, and I should show my friends my appreciation if I want to keep that friendship. I was able to find a best friend based off of similar passions, communication, and honesty. I think that everyboy should have a friend like Ashley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

 

Alok. (2020, January 04). Friendship is romance. Retrieved February 03, 2021, from https://www.alokvmenon.com/blog/2017/2/15/friendship-is-romance

Platonic intimacy by Lora MATHIS. (2018, November 12). Retrieved February 03, 2021, from http://tastzine.com/2018/11/12/platonic-intimacy-by-lora-mathis/