Laws of Life Essay, Silver Award: The Most Important Qualities in a Friend
By Albert Kim, WSHS

Every day we see new faces, but we cannot know everyone and make friendships with them. Friendship is not material but is spiritual. The important thing is what kind of friends you have. Friendship is one of the most important parts of life. Many proverbs show friendship is very important too. For example, without a friend to share them, no goods we possess are really enjoyable. Friendship is sharing thoughts, happiness, and sometimes sadness. I think the three most important qualities in friendship are trustworthiness, lenience, and sociability.

First, I think trustworthiness is the most important quality of a friend. When I was in Korea, I had a small quarrel with one of my friends. I gave money to my friend to buy school supplies for me. When I arrived at school, I met my friend in the hallway. He said, he bought my stuff and left the change in my desk. In Korea students do not change classrooms. Therefore, students have their own desks. I went into the classroom and checked the desk, but I found there were just supplies but no change. I waited for my friend. Later he came to the classroom. I told him that the change was not there and he needed to give me my change. My friend was very upset. He said I suspected him of taking my change. I went back to my desk with only a little doubt as to if he get the change. During school hours we did not speak to each other because we lost trust in each other. However, when school was over, while I was packing my backpack, I found the change in the corner of my desk. I was sorry for doubting my friend. Fortunately, I met him when I was going back home. I made an apology to him and he accepted. We became friends again. Because of this incident I learned without trustworthiness, there is no friendship.
Second, I think lenience is another important quality in friendship. This is necessary for keeping friendship. In the previous example, my friend was lenient enough to accept my apology. It can make friends better connected.

Lastly, sociability is another important quality in friendship. It is necessary for making a friend. When I went to a party my friend knew many people. Everyone liked to talk to him because he was very sociable. Almost all people like a sociable person. I think sociable people often meet many other people, so they have many friends. For example, when I went to a science meeting, I met many people. The people at the meeting were very sociable. They were happy to tell me an interesting story about science. I learned a lot of science theory. I think it is very important that we meet people and share something about our interests. This quality became important to me.

I think the qualities of trustworthiness, lenience, and sociability make better and lasting friendships. Before trying to find friends with these qualities, I should make an effort to become more trustworthy, lenient, and sociable. I am glad to have an opportunity to think about the important qualities in friendship by writing this essay.

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