Every person is shaped by their surroundings and the people around them. Part of the reason I am the way I am today is because of my girlfriends. Over the years, both old and new friends have taught me so much about the world and about myself.
(Sindhu Inala)
1. To Focus on the Bigger Picture
Something a lot of people do, including myself, is get caught up in the little things. Whether it’s going through a breakup, getting bogged down by homework and exams, or even just the stress of an embarrassing moment I had that day, my friends always know how to make me feel better. They teach me to focus on the bigger picture and to keep moving forward.
2. To Try New Things
Being a freshman in college, I had a hard time trying to figure out what clubs and activities to join. I didn’t want to try something completely new because I was afraid that I wouldn’t be good enough and that I would stick out like a sore thumb. My friends pushed me to go to interest meetings for things I normally wouldn’t have and to be more confident in myself. They taught me that it didn’t matter if I wasn’t good because college is the time to experiment and find myself. As long as I was putting in all of my effort, the results would show.
3. To Be Comfortable in my Own Skin
Even though I’m a pretty social person, one thing I’ve always lacked is confidence. But over the years, my confidence levels have increased thanks to my girlfriends. Anytime I’m feeling down or bad about myself, they always remind me of the good qualities I have and that I am good enough. They taught me not to care so much about what others thought of me and to just focus on myself.
(Sindhu Inala)
4. To Forgive
With every friendship comes its troubles and to say that I’ve never gotten into arguments with my friends would be a lie. But over the years, through all the issues, my friends have taught me that forgiving is easier than holding a grudge. It takes less energy and is one of the easiest ways to maintain relationships with others. It made me a more open-minded person because I learned to view things from other people’s point of view.
5. It’s Ok to Make Mistakes
In addition to teaching me how to forgive, my girlfriends have taught me that it’s OK to make mistakes. They helped me understand that it’s normal to mess up once in a while and the most I can do is fix my mistakes and move on. Everyone makes them, and the only thing that matters is if I learn from them. If anything, making mistakes is a good thing because you grow as a person from them.
(Sindhu Inala)
My girlfriends have made me the person I am today and I couldn’t be more thankful. They’ve taught me so much about not only about my surroundings, but also myself. They continue to support me no matter what I do and I’m forever grateful for them.