How many times have we seen people falling into the pit of misery because they had no right friend to stop them? I have not only seen such students but I have been one of those. And guess what? It dropped down my GPA from 3.31 to 2.9 in a single semester. (Must be kept between us, okay? Ha-ha.) However, that is what I call an impact but of the wrong friends.
We have heard “good friend” and “bad friend” but rarely we talk about what’s more important, A Right Friend. Because every human, especially in their younger years, has a fair share of good and bad.
It nowhere means that a right friend won’t have bad habits or a wrong friend can’t have any good habits. But this isn’t all. In order to understand what impact our friends shower on our academic lives, it is preliminarily important to know who a real friend is.
So, Who Really Is The Right Friend?
When we talk about the family we choose i.e. our friends, it pretty much depends on who we are as a person. That gives major help to decide who is going to stay beside us.
If your priorities as a student do not align with your academics, you can’t wish to have a circle that is academically better. You can’t be playing the whole semester and wish your friends to do your tasks. That’s not friendship. It’s a recipe for destruction.
The first person who can either be the best or the worst friend to you is YOU. Rest catches up accordingly. Life brings us many people but the ones who resonate with our mental frequencies and priorities stay.
Responsibilities Of a Right Friend
I used to believe friendships are just for fun unless adulthood knocked on my door. It is then I realized friendship is so much more than hangouts and gossip.
As we grow up, we realize our academic life isn’t just related to us. It is also about our company at school. Because those are the years which define the rest of our life course. Therefore, our choices and us both must be wise.
Either it’s you, your friend or both, there are certain responsibilities that come with being someone’s “The Right Friend”. They are:
a) First and foremost, telling you where you go wrong.
b) Helping you overcome your weaknesses.
c) Helping you achieve your better academic and personal version.
d) Defending you only when you are right on point.
e) Introducing you to positive criticism and healthy competition.
f) Refraining you from indulging into bad vices.
g) Helping you learn and lead through their positive characters.
h) Helping you find the right balance between fun and studies.
Before looking for the right friend, it’s important to be the right one yourself. These are not just the responsibilities but all the key traits one must have in order to excel at academics.
Here’s What The Right Impact Looks Like
In case you were wondering what the impact of a right company looks like, here it is:
a) You will see both personal and academic progress.
b) You will want to challenge yourself academically.
c) You will like to be as knowledgeable as your friend.
d) You will love to be studious.
e) You will be excited to come and learn each day.
f) Recognizing your friend’s strengths will help you look for yours. (e.g. I started exercising because my friend exercises too.)
Also read: How to Achieve Your Goals as a Student
Key Takeaways
I don’t believe when people say, “It’s okay if I have a bad company. It doesn’t affect who I am. It doesn’t influence me.” Because it does! Our friends are like unpaid tutors and they do influence our lives, especially academic life. Before we say goodbye, let me tell you, being with the right group of friends boosted my GPA back to 3.3 (in case you thought I’m lecturing you sitting in the pit).
While at campus, start sitting with people who are doing better than you. You will yourself witness the change!