I am a kind of person who doesn’t have much friends and I don’t really keep friends. Probably I’m not lucky with much friends but the moment I find a good one, I’ll stay with him or her. Also, I don’t think gender should have anything to do with true friend. That has always been my policy as long as the so called friend and I can benefit from each other.
During my University days, I had some friends but it was limited to just social life. None of them was there to help academically. But when it’s time for school parties and all, we will be available. We were always by ourselves during examination time since we never studied together but only go for parties together.
I was also not bothered about meeting new friends or people who could help me academically since I was academically sound too but things happen fo a reason and I met a friend.
When I got to 200 level, I met a new friend, his name is Smith. He studied in a different department from mine. We became close friends and we talked about life and other important things that has to do with us. Smith always make sure that he sacrifices time so that I can read despite the fact that he needed to study too.
Smith was the first person that taught me how to read. He will stay with me even though we were not from the same department. Smith is a very intelligent person and was good enough to know what is totally out of his field.
One day, he called me and said, Odunola, I don’t like the kind of friends you keep. They are not good enough for you, one of the things you came to school for is to learn. You deserve to graduate with good grades so that your parents will be proud of you*.
This words touched me and I decided to change. I decided to call my friends to also talk to them about everything. I told them this, Girls, I feel we should try to limit the way we go out for parties and focus more on our studies because that is what we came to achieve here abd every other tging is secondary. There responses I got were shocking and I felt really bad about it. One of the responses was that, if you don’t want to go out with us again, just let us know and don’t use studying as an excuse. The other one said, you think school is all about just studying, you just have to live your life at the fullest because this is the opportunity you have since you are no longer under your parents roof. We know we have to study but not to the point of not going fir parties anymore.
This was when I knew they were not for me. And I knew Smith was the only true friend I have. We became so close that I can’t even explain. During exams, he will ask me questions and made sure I understand every single thing before going for the exam. This was when I knew exam will be simple if you prepare for it. He made reading become so easy for me and that’s why I can read so many posts without getting tired.
This continued till we got to the final year and that was the time we had to prepare well because no one can afford to repeat that year and pay another school fees so we just had to buckle our shoes.
Smith and I were reading one night and I felt a sharp pin in my stomach.
My stomach is hurting me and I don’t know why; I told Smith and he got me a pain relief which I used and got better but the pain came again the nect day. The pain was too much and I had to visit the hospital. That was how I got the bad news that I will be having an appendix surgery.
I’m just four days to my examination so how do I do this?. I asked the doctor and he made me calm by telling me that it is not something serious.
Smith stood by me during the operation process and all. He washed my clothes down to my undies and I am never going to forget that.
My parents were far away from me and they could not come but they were able to reach me through Smith. When it was time to go to the examination hall, Smith would carry me like a baby to the hall including the fact that he helped me to study.
When the results came out, I was overwhelmed because I didn’t really prepare because of my ailment but with the help of Smith, I still graduated with good grades.
Let’s just assume that Smith made me a graduate today. At the end, I called Smith one day and said;
Thank you for all that you have done but why are you helping me this much? Do you need anything from me?. I asked because he rendered too much help than I could ever imagine and he responded bu saying;
Odunola, I want nothing from you than to see you do well in life
That was how I chose my best friend and I can proudly say that Smith stuck with me through thick and thin.
I appreciate him and I will forever do.
