band 60-70: CRITERIA FOR A GOOD FRIEND

        When we think ticklish sides of the world, we need somebody to cope with difficulties. We want to trust him/her and share our problems and our happiness with him/her. Therefore, we are always looking for the most suitable person. Of course, it is not easy as we thought but we might try to recognize people and decide which one suits us.It is also crucial that this person must give you confidence,love and listen you and make feel that s/he is always with you.Person who you choose as a friend must be like a father and always tries to protect you against harmful situations or must be like a mother and be compassionate.Of course there are a lot of criteria for a good and real friend but being always reliable,honesty whatever happens and keeping secrets can be the basic criteria.

        First of all, one of the features of a wanted friend is being always reliable because reliability is one of the most crucial qualification that is expected from a friend.For instance, when you need somebody in any situation,there must be somebody who is always near you and supports you.You must have a friend protecting your private goods when you entrust them to him/her.For example,when you are away,your friend must protect your goods. There must be a friend who you can go anywhere with him/her without hesitating. So,reliability gives you durability and makes you feel in secure.

        Secondly, honesty may be one of the qualifications which affects a person.Everybody can tell good sides of you but a good friend tells you bad sides,as well because his/her aim is not deceiving you.For example there is a problem about your friend and you realize that but you think if you mention about it,s/he can take offense but you think you should be honest about it because this problem can affect his/her life negatively.You choose your best words and tell. Maybe at fist s/he can get angry with you but then s/he will realize that you are right.Because of your honesty your friend will start to behave carefully. Relationship between you and your friend will be more durable thanks to honesty.

        Thirdly,keeping secret is one of the features which is wanted from a good friend.For example,when something bad happened although you are cross with your friend,you are comfortable that your friend is a real and good friend and will not tell your secrets to anyone.Secrets are sometimes can be too heavy incubus to live with them so you need to share them with a trustful friend.For instance,you heard a very terrifying admission from somebody and you learned it but it is too heavy to hide it and you tell it to your friend and feel that your incubus decreased.After that you start to feel more comfortable and also trustworthy. That is to say, secrets sometimes can be very crucial for our lives,finding a good friend to keep them is also significant.

        All in all,being reliable,honesty whatever happens and keeping secret are the most important qualificaions of a good friend. Everbody wants to be with a reliable person.’’When ditrust began,friendship disappeared.’’said Epicure. Reliability is equal to friendship so we must rely on somebody and try to find a real person. In my opinion, nobody rejects a person who is honest. If there is something bad or wrong,being honesty solves all the problems. Honesty shows that a person is moral.Everybody has secrets and sometimes we need to share them with somebody but this person is not be an ordinary one.We want to choose a trustful person who can keep our secrets. These criteria can hold friends all together.I mean,go on a long journey and in this journey eliminate handicaps,in the end you will reach an infinite sea then resign youself to the sea.

by Merve Cukaz 1st year ELT Student @ Erciyes University.