Colors of Ink
Kody P.
The Talk
It was a Sunday afternoon when i was still in 3rd grade, my Vietnamese teacher(I had Vietnamese class and bible school before Church on Sundays) during class at the end said this in Vietnamese to us “Even the brightest ink turns black when surrounded by black ink”. It means that whoever you surround yourself with will change you and the wrong people could turn the brightest person bad. This was due to some student at the time that we will call A that used to do very good in class but as time went on was influenced by his peers and started to do worse in the class and while he did not specifically say it to him he addressed it to the whole class at the time.
Seeing it in action
To me at the time when I heard that statement from my teacher I did not think much about it since I liked to be friends with everyone at the time, but as I moved through life going from middle school to high school and now to college. The friends I made along the way change, while some might stick around till today, there were a lot of friendships that drifted apart naturally or I actively avoided unconsciously while I was navigating through school. I was able to witness my friends that I once considered close to be influenced by peers to make poor decisions and in turn hurt themselves and each time I see that I get reminded of the ink quote that was told by my teacher. This was greatly exacerbated when I went into my sophomore year of high school, where after not going to school in person for two years due to COVID-19, there were many friends that I have not seen for so long change so much in that time and when we tried to reconcile and be friends again, some of them changed too much for me to even friends with them, since I was able to see the bad influence that they could cause, even if in middle school they were some of the brightest people I knew.
Moving on and Growing
After much reflection, I realized the importance of some friendships. Choosing friends wisely is crucial, because true friends offer unwavering support during challenging times. They are the anchors in the storms of life. Conversely, toxic friendships can be detrimental, leading to consequences ranging from minor setbacks to life-altering events that, in retrospect, leave you questioning your choices. Navigating life requires prioritizing your well-being and making decisions that align with your best interests. This journey of self-discovery will lead you to genuine connections. When you find these good friends, cherish them. Treat them with the respect and kindness they deserve, for they possess the power to illuminate even the darkest corners of your life. Just as bad friends can be your downfall, good friends can be your upliftment, transforming negativity into positivity and helping you navigate life's complexities with greater resilience and joy. Turning dark ink bright.