In high school, friends and social relationships aren’t just a part of your life — they’re at the heart of who you are. Lunch tables, late night texts and group chats — they all influence who you become more than you think. 

Our environment shapes our identity more than we often realize. That’s why your inner circle matters. It sets the tone for how you grow.

When your friends care about their futures, it motivates you to care about yours. 

The people you spend time with can either push you forward — or hold you back. 

Energy is contagious. When it’s negative, it drains you. It’s not about cutting people off. It’s about recognizing the energy that helps you grow.

But having different goals doesn’t make someone less valuable. Respect others’ journeys even if they don’t match yours.

High school is about learning, growing and understanding that everyone is on their journey. People come into your life for different reasons, and those reasons aren’t always tied to how closely they mirror your own plans for the future.

That mindset can shift without you even realizing it. It’s easy to slip into the mindset of seeing relationships as transactions — analyzing how much ‘value’ a friendship brings you based on shared goals or how much someone can help you get ahead. 

But this approach can turn friendships into checklists instead of connections. 

Lifelong friendships are built on trust and respect, not how useful someone is. Real friends aren’t investments, but people you grow alongside.

Surround yourself with people who challenge you, but stay humble.

The right friendships will lift you up, push you forward and remain by your side no matter where your goals take you.

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2025 print edition.