"What Friendship Means to Me"

When we asked our readers to tell us what friendship meant to them, we had no idea what we were getting into! We got so many great essays that we were sorry we had to choose only five. But choose we did, and these five essays all have something wonderful to say to all of us. We hope you enjoy reading them as much as we did!

---

Jenna B, 12, Ohio

What friendship means to me is someone that will never put you down. It is a person that is always nice and never mean. They are always loyal to you. Someone you can cry with and never be embarrassed. They will always stand up for you all the time. Friendship is one of the strongest bonds and one of the nicest. You can always have fun with them. If you have at least one friend in your life you are doing great!

It doesn't matter about the outside, it is what's on the inside. A friend is someone that will do whatever it takes to either save you or earn your respect. If they do that you know they are friend. Sure, you might get in fights sometimes, but no matter what you love them and they love you.

---

Rebekah D, 15, Maryland

I believe that a best friend is someone who hugs you when your brother runs away, and you're crying your eyes out. A best friend is someone who makes you laugh, or comes to you when something is wrong with their family. A best friend is someone who comes to you for everything, tells you the truth, and doesn't make fun of you. A best friend is Unconditional.

---

Melissa L, 13, Texas

Friendship, to me, means many things. Going to the movies with friends or hanging out with your best friends at each others houses. Someone to talk to when you need to get something off your chest.

Many people think friends are just who you talk to in school or who you walk with to classes. But to me friends are people you love like they are family. So I love my best friend like I love my family and she never feels left out.

Another thing is that my friends sometimes need to talk to someone, so I'm there for them and I tell them that. When I need someone to talk to, my best friend is always there, so I talk to her. She cheers me up and makes me feel so much better. My family always tries to cheer me up and they do a good job when I have a problem.

Last, sometimes people need to have fun, and all my friends love to have fun, and I love to have fun with them. We go to movies, parks, and malls, and to each others houses. I like spending time with them as much as they love spending time with me.

That's what friendship means to me. Just hearing the word friendship brings up love, fun, talking, secrets, and much, much, more. Friendship is a very important thing for everyone. I am ver glad I have friends who support me and will have my back forever. I just love all my friends.

---

Allison M, 11, Missouri

Friendship is when any number of people - young or old, female or male, - think that the other is cool, even if other people don't, or if they're rich or poor, or smart or dumb. They would never go behind each others back and say something mean about them, even if it is true. They would always have trust in each other, even if someone else says they have proof. They should always believe in each other and have faith, because everybody messes up sometimes. No one should be able to come between them if they are true friends, because if they believe all these things then they truly are good friends.

---

Katie M, 9, Illinois

A true friendship is when you're stuck, and you need help, your friend is there for you. If you hurt yourself, a friend is always there. If you are sad and lonely, a friend is there for you. A friend is there for you in the good times and the bad. A friend could be a person who lives in another state or one who lives close. But a friend always stays in your heart.