Friendship Matters in Life:
How to Build Strong
Relationships that Last
Av
by Andre van der Berg
Why Friendship is Important
1
Mental Health Benefits 🧠
Friends provide emotional support, boost self-esteem, and reduce stress.
2
Greater Happiness 😊
Research shows that people who have close friends are happier and more
satisfied with life.
3
Improved Physical Health 🏃♀️
Friendship can lead to healthier behaviors and lower risk of chronic diseases.
4
Expanded Perspectives 🌎
Friends can expose us to new ideas and perspectives, broadening our
horizons and enhancing creativity.
Types of Friendships
Acquaintances 👋
Close Friends 🧠
BFFs 👯♀️
The least intimate type of
A deeper level of connection
The closest and most
friendship, often based on
that involves more trust,
committed type of friendship,
shared activities or interests.
empathy, and shared
with high levels of emotional
experiences.
support and loyalty.
How to Build and Maintain Friendships
Practice Empathy 🧠
Show Gratitude 🙏
Listening actively and showing
Appreciating and acknowledging our
compassion can strengthen
friends' contributions can help
relationships.
sustain the relationship.
1
2
3
Be Yourself 🙋♀️
Communicate Clearly 🗣🧠
Authenticity is key to building
Honest and transparent
genuine connections with others.
communication can prevent
misunderstandings and conflicts.
4
Dealing with Conflicts in Friendships
Address the Issue Directly 🧠
Listen Actively 🎧
Don't ignore or avoid the problem; talk openly
Try to understand the other person's
and respectfully about it.
perspective and feelings.
Find a Compromise 🧠
Forgive and Move On 🙏
Work together to find a solution that benefits
Let go of resentment and anger to repair the
both parties.
relationship.
Friendship in the Context of IB
CAS 🎭
Extended Essay 📚
Group Projects 🧠
Participating in community
Working with a friend on the
Collaborating with classmates
service or extracurricular
EE can provide academic and
can enhance the learning
activities can help students
emotional support.
experience and create long-
make new friends and develop
teamwork skills.
lasting bonds.
The Impact of Social Media on
Friendships
1
Pros 🧠
Social media can help people stay
Cons 🙅♀️
2
connected across long distances, share
experiences, and discover new friends.
Social media can lead to social
comparison, cyberbullying, and
addiction, which can harm friendships
3
Best Practices 🧠
and mental health.
Using social media mindfully, setting
healthy boundaries, and prioritizing faceto-face interactions can help maintain
healthy friendships.
Conclusion: Key Takeaways
1
Quality Over
Quantity 🧠
2
Invest Time and
Effort 🕰🧠
3
Be Open to
Diversity 🌈
Focusing on building
Strong friendships require
Friendship can transcend
deep and meaningful
dedication, attention, and
differences in culture,
friendships can have
vulnerability, but the
background, and
more positive impacts
rewards are worth it.
personality, enriching our
than having many shallow
ones.
lives and helping us grow.