“Be who you are, love
who you are, and stay true to who you are.”
was able to learn through friendships is that time is precious. People these days seem to be infamous for saying things like, “Okay, I’ll do it in a minute!” or “It can wait until tomorrow.” For some, these statements are true, and they really will do it tomorrow, but for many (including me), they couldn’t be more false. I am generally a lazy person. I’m someone who isn’t willing to put in the work for something I am not passionate about. In some cases, this can be rewarding because I seem to take all of that unused effort and invest it into the things I am passionate about. When it comes to friendships, I was the same way. Growing up, I have always had a best girl friend and a best guy friend. Both, however, were always changing. Because I would put all of my eggs in the same basket, I experienced very strong and intimate relationships. These people became a piece of me and I became a part of them. As I have gotten older, these relationships have only gotten more meaningful and passionate. Some say that I am an idiot for investing so much into this handful of people over the course of my life, but I think that I am so blessed to have been able to experience such amazing friendships. Some of these people I have met through camp, some through school or sports; some I am still extremely close with, and some I am not. After attending Leaders for Life at the Cheley Camps in Colorado this past summer, I learned a very important lesson. You were put on this earth to live for yourself. At the end of the day, when you are lying in bed, looking at the ceiling, it is just you. If you can’t be passionate about yourself and what makes you you, there is no way you can genuinely fulfill the needs of someone else. However, when you love yourself and have someone you care about who shows that they need you, don’t wait until tomorrow; take the time to be there for them. The time will come when you need help, and if you have made the effort to be there for a friend, that friend will make the time to be there for you. Time 18
is precious and doesn’t last forever, so take the time you are given with the people you love and spend it knowing that tomorrow is never certain. Thanks to camp, I have learned when to put myself first and when I need to sacrifice for the ones I love. Yes, it can be challenging, but there is nothing worse than losing a friend, and nothing better than holding onto another. Learning how to monitor my time has taught me what I find to be the most important lesson of friendship. Be who you are, love who you are, and stay true to who you are. I have learned that with these three things, you will not only find happiness, but you will find and keep the friends with whom you will share bonds forever. When you are able to express yourself honestly and openly, present friendships will bloom, new friendships will be born, and friendships that may not be genuine will be pushed aside. This leaves you with nothing but love and happiness, knowing that there are people in your life who appreciate you for who you are and want to help you grow into the person you are meant to become. Having been to camp for two years, I have been able to experience firsthand the feeling of knowing people who love the person you are. Acceptance, comfort, and trust are only three of the many characteristics that define a meaningful friendship. It wasn’t until camp that I realized no friendship is real unless both participants are being themselves. I have been fortunate enough to be blessed with amazing friends who love me and support me in all that I do. Anyone who lives true to themselves will find friends that will stay in their hearts forever. Life lessons can be learned in some of the most unexpected places. Thanks to friendship, I have learned some of the most important ones. Be honest, invest your time wisely, and most importantly, be yourself. With the power, love, and support of those around you, there is nothing you can’t achieve. •