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Natalie

Greendale Middle School, Wisconsin

In 4k, I didn’t have any friends. I didn’t really talk to anybody. Then, I met my first friend. He didn’t really talk much either, but he was a good friend. For a while, it was just me and him. We were best friends and we played together. In 5th grade, another kid started hanging out with him, so I became friends with him too. I also played with another person a lot, too. Us four played make-believe together at recess. We would pretend we were in a fantasy world, and we would fight with sticks and pretend stumps were our thrones. It was nice to have friends.

I was anxious when I was switching to 6th grade. I thought my friends would separate and I wouldn’t have anybody, but we actually became better friends, and I got some new ones, too. I met another person. They were really funny. I also became friends with their friends. This one girl was very nice and we liked the same things. I really liked another one of their friends, and we hung out a lot. Unfortunately, The friend I met in 6th grade had to move away at the end of the year.

I was devastated. They were my best friend. They made me who I am today. They helped me express my personality more. In 7th grade, their friend and I stopped talking, but I was still friends with their other friend and my friends from elementary school. On the first day of school, someone asked to sit with me in math class. I knew her from elementary school, but I wasn’t friends with her yet. I thought she was pitying me, and that she thought I was lonely. She also asked me to sit with her at lunch, which made me realize that she actually wanted to be friends. She’s an amazing person, and I’m glad I’m friends with her. 7th grade was the best year of my life, and it was all because of my friends. In science class, I met two more friends. They were super funny, and I also got along with their friends.

Now, in 8th grade, I’m never really alone. I’m always surrounded by people I know and can talk to. Even if they may not feel like it, everyone has people they can be friends with; they just have to find the courage to talk to them. Everyone could use a good friend. Friends help you figure out who you are, they make you feel good about yourself, and you have a good time around them. Friends are the hand to lift you up when you fall down, and the eyes that see your accomplishments.

© Natalie. All rights reserved. If you are interested in quoting this story, contact the national team and we can put you in touch with the author’s teacher.