We all have that one best friend that we have known since elementary school. It is important to keep them close because long-term relationships are hard to come across while in high school.
The dynamic in high school is skewed by the struggle of social navigation, while juggling academic pressure, personal development, and search for belonging. Some people claim that the years spent are the best, but ultimately it is what they make of it.
High school influences the friends you make, and expectations can lead to acting differently and causing drama which may strain friendships as well as prioritizing popularity over personal compatibility.
“I feel like in high school, people are kind of finding out who they are, and like you also find out who your closest friends are. And I hope that I can stay close with all my friends I have now in the future,” senior Tilda Nalum said.
One of the biggest factors is simply shared experience. Going through the same things at the same time, navigating puberty, stressing about college and determining who you want to be. This creates a powerful bond.
“I think it’s very important to just be yourself and not be like everyone else in school or around you,” senior Mackenna Zigler said.
High school’s impact isn’t always positive when it comes to relationships. Sometimes intense social pressure can lead to exclusion, even bullying. It can be tough when you feel like you have to change yourself to fit in or when you’re constantly worried about where you stand in the social pecking order. Plus, the focus on popularity can sometimes overshadow genuine connections, leading to friendships that are more about status than support.
As people start thinking about their futures and heading in different directions, some friendships will naturally fizzle out, which can be a bummer, but it’s a pretty normal part of life.
The key is to be true to yourself and to recognize some friendships are meant to last a lifetime, while others serve a purpose for a season. Either way, the friendships you make in high school will leave their mark, shaping the person you become and influencing your future relationships.
