From the most extrovert among us to the most introvert, we all have friends. Whether we believe in a large group of friends or keep up with one or two best friends from childhood, we cannot deny that friends make up an important part of our universe.

We have shared the best times with them, laughed the most genuine laughter, shared lunchboxes, gone on trips together, clicked a gazillion pictures and bottled up countless memories. All of this were made possible because of these people we call friends.

There is a saying which goes like this: ‘Friends are the family we get to choose’. The word to notice here is ‘choose’. It is very true that you do not become friends with a person in an instant, even if you find one such friend you immediately want to be friends with, it always begins with being friendly and gradually creating a firm bond of friendship. Thus, we really do have the choice of choosing friends.

It cannot be emphasised enough how important it is to make wise choices, as the famous author JK Rowling has said: “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” This can be applicable throughout and covers all spheres of our lives.

Choosing the right friends for yourself is one of the most important choices that you get to make, because it is our friends who influence us, support us, help us at all times and it is with them that we spend most of our time.

One may still wonder why it is so necessary to be choosy about friends, but the more you think on this, the clearer it becomes. Being friends with the right kind of people brings out the best in you. These friends help you recognise your potential and strengths, they are the first audience you have for that speech you are nervous about, they are the ones who help you with your academic issues and the emotional issues as well, it is these friends with whom you share everything and they are your keepers of secrets. They are the constant source of positivity in your life and make everyday a little more memorable with their presence. Also, as friends influence your habits, having the right kind of friends contribute towards your positive growth.

It all sounds wonderful, right? Now what if you fall into bad company? What if one of your friends steals? What if you have friends who do not give importance to studies, waste their time, cheat their way out in exams and are careless about important things in life? What if they like to waste money on unimportant things or they do not respect their teachers?

These are just a few attributes nobody likes being recognised with. But if you have any such friends, not only do they influence you in the same manner but they also become a bad introduction to your name. You are known as the friend of someone who is not a good person and thus tagged as a similar person.

Friendships are vital to life, therefore they should be constructed with great care and choosing the right kind of company to be with matters, at all stages in our lives.

Published in Dawn, Young World, May 27th, 2017