Dear Little Friend...
Dearest Toni
You love to party. Who doesn’t? You have an awesome group of friends who you can be yourself around without having to worry about what anyone thinks. What more could a girl ask for? However, you’re nearing the stage in your life where you’ll have to say goodbye to all of them and start building the foundations of your future. I know you’re worried about whether or not you’ll find that group of people who will make your Rhodes experience worthwhile. Who will be there for you when you have a bad day? Who’s going to hand you the Panados after a big night out? And will you find that person who will stand at the front of the stage with you while his band is playing?
The answer to all of these questions is quite simple. You will find people who make you laugh, who will hold your hand when times are tough (or because you can’t walk properly anymore after one too many at The Gaol). Don’t get me wrong, they can never replace your friends at home, but you will form bonds with them, and these bonds may be even stronger than the ones you already have with your existing friends. The people that you meet at Rhodes will become like your family, and every moment you have there, may it be a good one or a bad one, will remain special to you because your friends will be there for you.
But how do you make these friends? Well, remember how you were feeling on your first day of high school? It’s a pretty similar feeling to the one you’re feeling now, isn’t it? You were scared and uncertain of what was going to happen. But you stayed true to yourself. You never changed for anyone, and admittedly, it was difficult. But in the end, everything worked out, and you made some of the best friends you could ask for. It’s very similar at Rhodes. You need to remember that you aren’t the only scared one. Almost everyone around you in your first year is feeling exactly as you do, and the only thing that you can really do to begin with is just to be there for each other.
Just one more thing. Life at Rhodes will get very difficult at times. You won’t get along with everyone. You’ll get the odd dirty look every now and again, and you might find that there are certain people who you’ll just never be friends with. But that’s okay. You don’t have to be Miss Popular, and you don’t have to remember everyone’s name. But you do need to have respect for everyone, and you need to understand that everyone is different. Just know that the friends you make, the ones you love and who love you back, are the people that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. And yes, although you’ll have a new group of friends, they too, will mock you the next morning for the silly things you may have done at The Union or Friar’s the night before.
Much love,
Toni
xxx
You love to party. Who doesn’t? You have an awesome group of friends who you can be yourself around without having to worry about what anyone thinks. What more could a girl ask for? However, you’re nearing the stage in your life where you’ll have to say goodbye to all of them and start building the foundations of your future. I know you’re worried about whether or not you’ll find that group of people who will make your Rhodes experience worthwhile. Who will be there for you when you have a bad day? Who’s going to hand you the Panados after a big night out? And will you find that person who will stand at the front of the stage with you while his band is playing?
The answer to all of these questions is quite simple. You will find people who make you laugh, who will hold your hand when times are tough (or because you can’t walk properly anymore after one too many at The Gaol). Don’t get me wrong, they can never replace your friends at home, but you will form bonds with them, and these bonds may be even stronger than the ones you already have with your existing friends. The people that you meet at Rhodes will become like your family, and every moment you have there, may it be a good one or a bad one, will remain special to you because your friends will be there for you.
But how do you make these friends? Well, remember how you were feeling on your first day of high school? It’s a pretty similar feeling to the one you’re feeling now, isn’t it? You were scared and uncertain of what was going to happen. But you stayed true to yourself. You never changed for anyone, and admittedly, it was difficult. But in the end, everything worked out, and you made some of the best friends you could ask for. It’s very similar at Rhodes. You need to remember that you aren’t the only scared one. Almost everyone around you in your first year is feeling exactly as you do, and the only thing that you can really do to begin with is just to be there for each other.
Just one more thing. Life at Rhodes will get very difficult at times. You won’t get along with everyone. You’ll get the odd dirty look every now and again, and you might find that there are certain people who you’ll just never be friends with. But that’s okay. You don’t have to be Miss Popular, and you don’t have to remember everyone’s name. But you do need to have respect for everyone, and you need to understand that everyone is different. Just know that the friends you make, the ones you love and who love you back, are the people that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. And yes, although you’ll have a new group of friends, they too, will mock you the next morning for the silly things you may have done at The Union or Friar’s the night before.
Much love,
Toni
xxx
Labels: first year, friends, individual, journalism, laugh, party, popular, sex
posted by CruisersLac at
6:37 AM
3 Comments:
This comment has been removed by the author.
Toni’s letter about the trials and difficulties of leaving your friends at home while you go to a University far away struck a chord with me because I also did not want to leave my home and my friends. It was very difficult to leave my family and friends and I hated it at first but, just like Toni says, it gets better once you find your spot. It can in fact get so good that you have that same feeling in the back of your throat and pit of your stomach about leaving G-Town and all the friends you made here. All I can say is that you should be open to making as many friends as possible at Rhodes, just don’t forget the friends of old.
Chloe.
http://www.ruasurvivor.blogspot.com/ - My Dearest Friend...
Toni's letter made me feel understood. I also had trouble accepting that not everyone would like me. Toni's advice to her younger self about accepting that differences between herself and others would arise but that it was still important to respect everyone, even if they're not a friend is a lesson I learnt this year. I enjoyed Toni's light-hearted yet sensible advice. My first year would have been less bumpy if I had been advised by Toni. She shows maturity and wisdom while maintaining a friendly, compassionate relationship with her younger self.
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