Our pachyderm pals

Now we find ourselves at the midpoint of Winter Quarter. The time when we settle into our routine of classes and feel the end of the year approach too slowly. While some of us can’t wait for the year to end, much less the quarter, others are amazed that life can pass by so quickly. The greatest thing to remember at times like these are our friends, be they real or simply the all-so-common Facebook/MySpace acquaintances. As John Pinkus questioned in his article two weeks ago, how many people are truly friends, and how many are just the kind folk who return a wave or a nod?

I claim that Rose is Rose due to the overwhelming response one gets by walking to class (or just walking through the Quad and academic buildings during passing time) and saying hello to passersby. Although, I’m the type of person that considers a friend as anyone who shows me the newest viral on YouTube when I’m trying to finish homework at four in the morning, or even sharing the simple pleasure of eating a meal together sometime during the day, yes, even if it is at the ARA.

It’s eye-opening, talking to older generations about their relationships with their friends. With how many friends from their respective colleges and high schools do they keep in touch? With how many do they wish they had kept in touch, but don’t? They say these are going to be the best days of our lives, so why bother ignoring someone that says hi in the hallway? They may turn out to be your one lifelong friend.

So I say, get out there, say hello to strangers, eat with people you’ve never met and make a new friend each week. I mean, the worst that can happen is a car ride to an abandoned warehouse and free candy; and who doesn’t love free candy?