By: Adolphia Martin

Adolphia Martin

Have you ever found yourself being judged for the friends you keep?  Gained a reputation because of the people you are around? Simple solution…GET RID OF THEM!  Just like the phrase ‘men come a dime a dozen’, so do friends and its completely up to you to treasure the shiny ones and put the bent, cracked and rusty ones aside.

As teenagers and young adults we have various responsibilities, which include carrying ourselves in a respectful and appropriate manner and maintaining a good reputation.   A good reputation is not simply determined by the clothes we wear, the things we do or the way we speak but also by the company we choose to keep.  Being around the wrong group of people or merely the wrong person can have a negative effect on the way you are viewed by society.  It is quite easy to gain an unfavourable reputation from being around certain individuals.  

Understandably, you won’t get along with everyone and you would prefer to be around people with whom you are familiar.  However, if you find yourself in a position where you are being prejudged, misjudged or discriminated against due to the people you associate yourself with, the consequences in the long run would be more painful than giving up these ‘friends’.  

Don’t get me wrong, not always is it necessary to completely cut these friends off.  Sometimes simply distancing yourself can be just as effective and can have a clear difference on the way you are perceived in society.  

In conclusion, when choosing your friends, always remember that all that glistens isn’t gold and that the reputation we gain at this stage of our lives will follow us everywhere we go.  No matter how much you believe, that what people think of you doesn’t matter, IT DOES!