By: Trinity Pyle
Friends play a crucial role in a student's life, not just socially, but also academically and mentally. Ivee Thurston says ¨I would describe friendship in a students affects on academic success and mental well being as important, both mental success and academic success half the time rely on who you surround yourself with; if you are surrounding yourself with negative people that can have an impact both on your mental health and academic success, making you not wanna do your work, putting you down. Versus if you surround yourself with positive people who make you feel good about yourself, it’s more likely to help you mentally and academically.¨ Friends can be a major academic motivator. Having a study buddy who's driven can encourage you to hit the books harder. Lilly Pierce says ¨I would say that friendship can be good for students learning; a student might not understand something, but their friend might.¨ Group study sessions can be super productive, as you can bounce ideas off each other, explain concepts in new ways, and keep each other on track. Plus, a little friendly competition never hurts to push you to do your best.
On the other hand, if your friend group isn't into studying, it might be a bit tougher to keep your grades up. The key is balance and hanging with friends who have different strengths can help you all grow together. Thurston claims ¨I have seen friendships positively impact students motivation and engagement in their studies a lot throughout my school year, in my experience, friendships have helped me focus on my studies and be more engaged because while even though I’m doing work, my friends are around me and in my experience, talking to my friends about the assignment or what we’re doing helps me keep on task rather than being off task and distracted by something else.¨
Friends are like your personal cheer squad – they're there to celebrate the wins and help you through the losses. Thurston states ¨A specific example I have is in math class, I have friends in there and usually I do not understand my work or do not know how to do it, but with my friends with me they know I struggle with math the most, so they do their best to help me and explain what’s going on to me rather than making me feel bad for not knowing what’s going on.¨ They get what you're going through because they're right there with you. This shared experience can create a support system that's crucial for mental well-being. Pierce states, I think friendship can affect a person's mental well being because they give students a way to be comfortable with talking to another person about anything they might need.¨
Having someone to talk to about stress, anxiety, or just the everyday ups and downs can make a world of difference. It's all about feeling understood and not alone. Plus, laughter and fun times with friends are the best stress-busters around. It's all about choosing the right people. Look for friends who are positive, motivated, and supportive. They should be the ones who encourage you to do your best and are there to help when you're not feeling 100%. Friends can make or break your academic and mental game. They can inspire you to reach new heights or can be a distraction if not in sync with your goals. Overall, friends are very important and can impact you in positive or negative ways.
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