Pick Your Friends Wisely: Observations of a College Student

Back when I was a teenager, my Father told me to make sure to pick my friends carefully and he also made sure to tell me "association brings about assimilation."

Once I left for college in the Fall of 2002, I found myself running into tons of people with a different sets of opinions and views, both politically and religiously. I also managed to run into people who were mentally unstable, and some physically disabled. I had my share of experience in the past years with manipulators and "haters." I had to deal with "down low" and "in the closet" racists and self - righteous fascists.

On the other hand, I also managed to run into good, honest and wise individuals. I have had my share of meeting both students, professors, and ministers, who were some of the best and brightest in the field they were fully devoted to. Many people I have met over the past years I have attend college have been both a blessing to me and to my family, and have shown themselves to be really good people with real awesome goals and challenges.

Perhaps your experience has been the same; perhaps you are currently learning that there are good people, and then there are people who are involved in "no good" types of activity.

Their will always be a challenge in finding the right friend or crew to be around, but through patient and safe measures, such a goal can be accomplished.

First, if you're on campus often, look at the announcements and advertisements around the campus. Surely there is "something" going on around your campus, and surely people will be in attendance, especially if the event is something enjoyable.

Second, as your in an event or place full of people that may be around your age, make sure to get to know a little bit of everyone in the group or setting as much as you can. Obviously, if you have hundreds of students and staff in attendance to a meeting or group, you can't meet everyone. Just try to meet a few people and have fun! And don't be afraid…if your shy, trust me, it is always a little weird to meet people at first, but half the excitement is getting to know someone else new. You never know, that person may be someone you'll be hanging out with for a very long time.

But do beware certain characteristics. As my Father use to tell me, "association brings about assimilation." If your hanging out with someone or a group that tend to have a certain character or behavior, you may start to add some of their habits into your very own, so do be careful.

Also, never let someone try and take advantage of you or try to tear you down, and then blow it off as someone having a bad day. You need to confront such a situation right their and then…otherwise, an association turn friendship, can turn friendship under false foundation.

Some of the friends I had, I made the mistake of calling "friends" first rather than "associates," so make sure to identify someone first as an "associate" before you truly get in to deep as far as hanging out goes.

Luckily and Thankfully, I managed to run into many good "associates" but a few good true "friends". It has truly been a blessing to be amongst some of the brightest, and most eccentric, creative, loving and caring, and for myself, most importantly, Christ-like individuals. I have managed to grow and change and learn, and increase in knowledge and in life experience, and such experiences have been helpful life - application tools even within my own sermons.

May your running with good people bring peace, joy, and happiness to your life, including many blessings!!