I am 10 and I am completely deaf so I can’t hear
anything that goes on, I need a cochlear implant to hear the noises around me. To do this you have to insert AA batteries into my processor to make it work BUT… these batteries sometimes run out, and then it’ll be up to my friends to communicate for me, whether it’s sign language, writing on a piece of paper or running to a shop to pay for more batteries. It’s because they care about you and they want to help you when you need it.
Friends also protect you when bullies are being mean to you. My family has often told me the about the day I was really little. In the park, three big kids were standing over me, my brother who was about 7 stood between them and didn’t cower. He stood strong and the bullies went away. He did this because he was showing friendship and love. I do not remember this though my parents keep telling me that when we are fighting with each other. It’s not just when bullies are in front of you looking tough, friends will help you in all sorts of situations like homework copies, lending pencils at school, helping at funerals and much more.
When you are young and sitting in the sand pit at pre-school with other boys and girls, each of you playing with your own trains, you are not really making friends. It is when you start to share all your trains and play together, like making a huge track, each having their own ideas to combine into a brilliant game.
This is what I call ‘Linking you and your friend’s world’ you are magnifying your knowledge, getting new ideas and increasing your fun. You learn about different things with each other like your religion, culture and style. Which leads me to an example, I have a friend new to the school, he is Chinese. That means it is difficult to understand him. I play with him almost every day. I have taught him how to play hand-ball, he makes more friends by joining in the other games. He has taught me to count in Chinese. There are lots of differences between us. His Chinese, I am not. He is new, am not. I am deaf, he is not. Though we are different we are still friends
You should always have someone to trust. There should be a friend across the street that you go to on a Saturday that you play games with and have a good old time with. Who? You know your friend, you like your friend, you love your friend. Friends aren’t a bundle of silliness and laughs, it’s better than that. Friends are special…
This article, by Hugh Entwistle from Putney Public School, was the Year 5/6 runner-up in What Matters? 2008.
What Matters? is a writing competition run by The Whitlam Institute that gives year 5-12 students in NSW and ACT a chance to say what matters in society today.
For more information go to:
http://www.whitlam.org/whitlam/index.php
