Student response to "How Do I Choose Good Friends"

From the recent Friendship survey we posted, we had a special response from Victoria, one of Kristi's students.

Thanks, Victoria! Others are welcome to send in their responses, too, for possible posting here!

Here's what Victoria wrote:

"Well, first off, if you're asking this question constantly when you're around people, that kinda gives you a clue that you may not have the best uplifting friends. Sometimes people make friends only because there's no one else they know around them. I can remember several times (when I was younger) where I was caught up in different situations and different places, that I was absolutely desperate to at least have one friend everywhere I went. Which isn't the best way to make friends, or the right mindset to have.

"A habit that many people have is that they're attracted to different personalities. Recently my Bible class has been studying personalities and learning how to relate to others personalities and determine our own. One of my strong personality characteristics is a sanguine, which means I'm a go-to type of girl. I'm attracted to cholerics which are outgoing like me, but I'm also attracted to people I can relate to, a sanguine. One of the benefits I have to having a lot of friends is that I can learn how to communicate with them. Some, I have to let them know that I care for them more often than I usually do, them being a bit more closed in. And others I argue with a lot (best friends) because we are VERY close in personalities.

"One of my best friends is a choleric and sanguine exactly like me, so our tempers tend to collide more often. And still others I have to keep at a distance because I don't want them to run over me. Honestly, the best way to get to know friends is first to identify your personality. If you're outgoing and always bubbly, you're most likely a sanguine. If you're outgoing but yet headstrong and a born leader, you're probably a choleric. The other two personalities are introverts: phlegmatic and melancholy. These two tend to be more closed off, go-with-the-flow types.

"When you first choose your friends, you immediately want to get to know their likes and dislikes and determine whether or not you find anything you like in them. Especially if they're the opposite sex, you need to see if they're all right. As in: without drugs, no alcohol, no cussing, no smoking, and so on. What I do, whether or not I'm looking for the other genders' friendship OR a relationship, I always go to a good friend to check with them and what they do in different situations. When they go out, they try to get close to them and see their different reactions when they're near his/her friends. If you get to know their close friends, then you will know who his/her peers are and what different influences are around him/her, and if they're walking with Christ.

"God puts in us the desire to have companions to go through life with: someone to laugh with, someone to share hopes and dreams with, someone to have a shoulder to lean on and talk about struggles. He also wants us to have fun in life! He wants you to walk through life with a hop in your step and a clear conscious of who He wants you to be! He loves it when you please Him by making good choices, especially when you're in a bit of trouble. God knows who He wants to walk beside you in your life and how long they will walk with you. So don't worry, He will guide you to the right people."