As a young child, friendship does not really exist, the friends that a child really has is more like an encounter. Playing with another child one day and then going home, that was that until the two kids happen to meet again, which is generally in preschool. When a child is playing with another child it is as if everything revolves around each child's needs. "What toy you wanted and where you wanted to play" (Kalb 56). As the youngster proceeds into the elementary grades they begin to understand that friendship is more than just a playmate. They start to see their friend's point of view, share secrets, plans and feelings and help seek so

One more question that was asked was, "do your friends influence you? In what ways?" Russell replied that his friends do influence him to do things that he would not normally do but end up having fun in. The influence his friends have on him is typical; he does whatever his friend's do, which may or may not be an awful notion. Angelica said that peer pressure is "gay." That must be the new word for her generation. What she means is that she does not become influenced by her friends. If this is true she has a great path ahead of her, but I believe she said this because it would be a response that I'd like to hear. Justin said that his friends do influence him. When he sees his friend get a good job or a nice car for example, it pushes him to do better, to get a better job or car. I don't know if Justin just needs that push or if it is his ego.

The next question is, "how many true friends do you have? How does the size of your current size friendship group compare with its size when you were younger?" Both Russell and Angelica said that there group of friends now is a lot bigger compared to when they were younger. On the other hand, Justin said that his friendship is much smaller now compared to then. Once a person graduates from high school, as did Justin, the social interaction lessens. Life is now focused on you and what you are going to do in life rather than who is taking who to the dance.

2. What makes a friend different from an acquaintance?

Next question is, "who is the most popular person in your friendship group? What is that person like? Why do you think that person is popular?" Russell's response was amusing but very real; he said that his friend Allen was the most popular person in his group. Allen is very good at sports, and funny but not at all smart and they only reason he is popular is because of his two older brothers. This statement may seem a little cruel, but when the media shows a popular person on television the person is shown to be athletic, and usually having trouble academically. Angelica said that her friend Jessica is the most popular in her group because she is open, loud, and funny. When a person is open, loud, and funny well of course that person is known but that does not mean the person is liked best among the whole group. As for Justin, he replied that there is no favoritism in his group of friends. Being in the early stage of adulthood a person could care less about the most popular person, it usually a little group of friends that is known from high school. Rarely are the people seen, but when everybody gets together is just about catching up and having fun.

On to the next question, "what makes a friend different from an acquaintance?" The three teen's answers were very close with one another. Russell replied that a friend is a person that you hang out with and have a good time, someone that is trustworthy where as an acquaintance is a person you do not know on a personal level. Angelica states that a friend is emotionally closer than an acquaintance and as for Justin, he says that respect and tru

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Approximate Word count = 2087
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)