How To Make Friendships

Last
A very good morning I bid to our honourable principal, Tuan Haji Juahir bin Mondakir, to our
dedicated teachers, peer facilitators and to all my friends listening today. Beforehand, let me
introduce myself. My name is Muhd Zhafran and in conjunction with the Counselling Week, I would
like to give a short speech on how to make friendships last. Lend me your ears and I shall pay back
with knowledge in return.
Being a member of the counselling unit for five years had been a great journey of
discoveries for me. I have seen the wonders of life and the stains of humanity through all those
students who arrived at the humble door of our counselling room. Truly, the very essence that
manifest the joyful and sorrow moments in our life is friendship.
The spaces between your fingers are created so that a friend can fill them in, the
verisimilitude of this maxim resonates within ourselves. The question is, how do we exactly keep
those hands together till our souls depart from this world?
Ladies and gentleman, students and teachers alike, making a friendship last is never an
impossible issue. Just like baking a cake, there are some ingredients needed for it to be realised.
Be polite. Compliment your friends when they do something right. Shower them with
praises in order to make them happy. However, if they do something wrong, offer help when they
need it. Mend their ways, give constructive criticisms and support them along the journey of life
and at the end of the crossroad, you will see them still with you till the end of time.
Her cat died? His mother falls ill? Show your concern for others. Console them and always
try to cheer them up. Always remember that laughter is the best medicine. Listen to their problems
and give your best moral support to overcome the painful moments in their life. Stand together and
be with each other and you will see that even tsunami cant break you apart.
It could fall on 25th October or 10th June, either way, you must remember their birthdays.
Show your appreciation; it could be in the form of a teddy bear, Manchester Uniteds jersey or even
a poem you wrote. Dont stop there, go out for short trips to an island or beach or even the local
shopping complex. Treat them, have a meal together and have fun. Before you realise, they will be
planning your surprised birthday party behind your back.
Of course, not everybody flocks together. You and I are like heaven and earth. We are
different. Keeping the scores on Arsenal versus Chelsea football match might be your thing, but
writing poems and reciting them is a better hobby for them. It doesnt matter how different you
are, the most important thing is to respect each other. Be open-minded and accept them as they
are. They could be the minority of a social community, thus it is your job to understand their
feelings. Never judge them just because they are different. A rainbow cannot be formed if all seven
colours are the same; the altruism fits the concept of friendship perfectly.
Ladies and gentleman, our life is govern by fate long before we were born. Life can be dull
and unfair. It could take the smile off of your face and bring tears to your eyes. Thats where
friends come in; they lend support and help each other out constantly. Their presence in our life is
the greatest gift God could ever give. I wish all of you to stand together and withstand your
friendship through the test of time.
Thank you.
Muhd Zhafran
5 SC 3