School Strangers to Life Lifters

"I remember the very first day of my school. I woke up with a start, getting ready for the day I was looking forward to. I remember being friends with everyone; every teacher would smile at me. I was the bes-"

Yeah, no. No no. I jus- I just cried for 2 weeks straight. I guess I was scared to see so many unfamiliar faces and would cover my face behind the handkerchief pinned to my shirt.

Ironically however, as the days turned to months and then years, I began calling it home; not because it was a building I spent every day in, but because of the people there. As strangers turned to friends, I began to understand the power of friendship.

Like every single relationship on Earth, friendship too starts with a give and take. In the context of school friendships, it starts with the gives and takes of notes. Eventually, it may morph into mutual care, support, a pinch of love, and tons of teasing.

What is that? What about respect? scoffs. No no no, there is no such thing as respect between friends. Not when you've heard them laugh like maniacs, cry rivers, and use fewer brain cells than a jellyfish. Despite their silliness, these are the same people who turn your face to smile effortlessly, hear all your worries, and lend a hand to pick you up whenever you fall.

During the journey, friendship does not involve obligations or judgment. In my opinion, the most necessary thing to realize is that- friendship is meant to ease your life, not add to it. It's just an understanding and acceptance of each other's interests while being able to share yours. It is about cherishing pure joy. It is, obviously, accompanied by flaws and fights. But true friends will stick around for those disagreements, the hugs, and the laughs.

Though it may look a little different for everyone, it remains about the positivity and happiness you gain with them. To me, a true friend is someone who forgets your birthday (looking at you, Sarah) but always brings you last-minute chocolates. A true friend schedules calling you, but it always goes an hour beyond (Crystal, hey there!). A true friend never texts you, but always talks the most when they see you (Need to learn to type, Maria?) A true friend makes the most unrealistic plans (cough, Akshara, cough) but always reassures you that it will all be okay.

I met all these friends when we were excited to buy our very first mechanical pencil. They stayed until the moment us owning phones. I met all these friends when we would wait for the last school bell to go home. They were the people with whom I played kho-kho, shoe-chan, and tag. They were the people with whom I could joke about classes and whine about exams. From our old pinky promises to new pinky promises. (Let's face it, pinky promises are unbreakable)

They were the people because of whom I cried not only on the first day of school but also on the last. But someday, we may have an actual last conversation, last laugh, and last memory. Sometimes, they drift apart. We choose different paths. And at the end of the day, friendship is not a forever journey. When the story concludes, the moral is to have grown from what the other person gave us. It's to continue having the person's best interests and best wishes at heart.

So go on, and let your true friend know you will lift them. Make sure your true friend still loves being annoyed by you (only the easily irritable ones are the keepers). Teach them your birthdate. And talk to them every time you see sights of darkness; they never fail to bring the light to you. Appreciate their presence and keep laughing with them, will you?

Signed,

Ann