advanced composition saved my soul last semester. here's a december essay.
There are six degrees of separation between any two people, or so
the old theory states. This philosophy may seem a bit contrived,
but can prove to be an entirely viable speculation. If anyone
were to actually examine the various relationships people share,
he would certainly realize that the world is not so large after
all.
Any two people in the world can be connected. Due to
various relationships, people are linked, chained, and stacked
side by side. Some relationships throw a pair of individuals on
other ends of the globe, room, or country, while other
relationships throw a couple on either ends of a conversation.
How does a person obtain relationships? Well, a connection
can be gained in numerous situations. Sometimes associations are
constructed at birth due to parents introducing their respective
bundles of joy to one another. Other alliances are acquired
during the academic years. In elementary school, two children
could share crayons in order to scribble haphazardly outside the
lines. Likewise, two children could bicker over the key spots in
a rousing game of four-square. In contrast, two teenagers thrown
into a class they considered to be less than academically genius
could pass the time by making sarcastic comments about their
instructor. Extracurricular activities, such as clubs and
sports, also are beneficiary in the introduction of different
people. Some people frequent concert venues and clubs, where
they notice familiar faces. Even later in life, people can be
introduced to one another through the work force or adult groups
such as lodges and auxiliary boards. From these chance meetings,
relationships grow in separate ways. There are four main
categories that deal with obtaining or abstaining from
relationships: friendship, rivalry, family, romance. There is,
however, more than coincidence driving a successful relationship.
When does a random rendezvous between two people become a
friendship? Perhaps the tell-tale sign of a friendship is
attitude. Attitude plays the largest factor in the success of a
friendship. First of all, friends are usually kind to one
another. They respect each another, and work well when faced
with adverse situations. A friend can share similar interests,
hobbies, beliefs, or talents. An amigo may be found within the
same social circle as another person; cliques hold similar people
together, forming amicable relationships. Likewise, a valuable
chum can be the complete polar opposite of his best friend. Some
friendships are years or even decades old, as worn in and faded
as a pair of blue jeans, while others friendships are as new and
fresh as a batch of cookies that have just been pulled out the
oven. As long as two people come together in harmonious unity, a
successful friendship has been formed. How then, if friends are
so easily formed, can there be inimical relationships?
The second type of a relationship one can hold is the
anti-friendship: enemies. Enemies can be found in the same
situations as friends, only there is one serious difference: an
enemy is not congenial. Enemies do not work well or get along
with another person due to adverse factors. Some enemies are
formed because of fundamentally incongruous beliefs. A lack of
open-mindedness is often why two people cannot befriend one
another. Factors such as race and religion sometimes cause
people to disapprove of one another, as well as lifestyle and
sexuality. Enemies are also often found in rivaling cliques and
adverse social situations. An enemy can even result from a
friend who undergoes a drastic personality change, or after a
misunderstanding or an act of betrayal. Unlike friends, enemies
are malicious and hurtful, and do not spread joy where they go.
The third road a chance meeting can take is the romantic
aspect. This relationship is a great deal like a friendship,
only much more affectionate. Coincidentally, many romantic
relationships result from friendships. Whether two people meet
in everyday life or via long distance--chat rooms, dating
programs, personal ads--means, love can always be in the air.
Some people crave the comfort and stability of romantic long-term
relationships, while others strive for the carnal aspects that
dating offers. Many people feel that monogamy is the key to a
successful relationship, though a new trend of loose or
polygamoric relationships are becoming more and more prevalent.
Romantic relationships are versatile enough to fit most people’s
needs and wants. Whether near or far, unswerving or perfidious,
romance is formed for a number of reasons, one of these reasons
certainly not being platonic. So long as two people take
flirtatious interest in one another, a romance is formed.
The last type of relationship has nothing to do with chance
meetings. In fact, there is no way to escape the wrath of this
category. Whether anyone would like to acknowledge this or not,
each person has a family. Families are inescapable; they are
blood-related. A family cannot be renounced or denied, no matter
how much legal work is completed; no one can deny his roots. A
family is a person’s identity. Family relationships are much
different than other relationships. First of all, no one is
allowed to choose his family. As a result, families are not
necessarily the most pleasant. Though family ties are
exceptionally strong, the fundamental right to choose one’s
relationships is clearly violated with family. Love them or hate
them, a family is the only link to one’s past, present, and
sometimes even future.
Relationships are found everywhere. A friend one day can
become a romantic interest, and slowly turned into an enemy. A
family member can become a friend, and an enemy can even become
an object of affection. These days, no relationship is set in
stone; humans can choose their relationships. More importantly,
humans can choose to alter their relationships to suit their
needs and wants.
