As a child, I had the regrettable experience of losing most of my friends due to migration. By the time I had reached age 12 most of the children I knew from our Sunday school and our community had gone overseas as their families went in pursuit of a better life.
This resulted in me becoming a little withdrawn and during my early teenage years felt even more unloved and uncared for. In those days, communication means were not as easily accessible as they are today. So we weren’t able to keep in touch.
I nevertheless was compensated for it at primary school. In Primary school, I had a lot of friends and since I was liked by one of the most beautiful girls in the entire school, I had become very popular. Everyday, religiously, she had an entourage of girls with her whenever she went for her lunch break. She would wait for me at break for us to go have lunch together. Naturally, there would be a group of boys since there were so many girls
These early interactive experiences taught me the importance of socializing and gave me the self confidence needed to be more people oriented.
My life was further influenced by my female friend, Kahiefa, who became my best friend at about age 13. We had been friends since age 9 when we use to sing together on a children’s choir at a near by church.
Today she still remains one of my long time friends along with a few others now residing in USA, England and Canada. The most valuable of lesson and the most cherished about friends, is the fact that we all need to have them, even one. Warm friendships, mutual acquaintances and a feeling that we belong, all add value to living.