Friends are one of the most important parts of a young adult’s life. Friends come and go. They could be friends from school or just someone you meet while you are out and about. But how important are friends for a young adult? How do you maintain a good friendship? And how can you surround yourself with friends that will help you improve as a person and not be bad influences?
As a young adult myself, I consider friends to be very important. Although I am a more introverted person, it is nice to be able to enjoy spending time with other people who share your interests and get along with you. Friendships give young adults the feeling of belonging and help them develop as a person. Maintaining friendships also prevents the feeling of loneliness, which is a big factor that can lead to anxiety and depression in young adults.
One of the worries I experience as a young adult is maintaining friendships. Realistically, friendships do not last forever. People move on. They have their own lives to attend to. This can be a concern for young adults.
Parent Involvement
A lot of parents worry if their child is spending a lot of time with their friends and not spending enough time with the family. This is a valid concern. But your child spending time with their friends should not be viewed negatively. In fact, you could even view it in a positive way since spending time with friends means that they are socializing and getting to know other people.
I do think that parents should know who their child is spending time with, however. For example, my parents know who my friends are. Because of this, it is easy for them to know what I am up to, and limits the concern regarding my friendships. If you as a parent try to stop your child from spending time with their friends, this might cause them to distance themselves even more. So the easiest thing to do is to accept it and get involved as well. If your child has friends from school, you can sit down with them and let them talk about their day. Try to make it into a way to get closer to your child. For example, “How is your friend Adam doing?” This can be an easy way to start a conversation with your child, and a healthy way to give your input regarding their friendships.
Example of the Prophet Muhammad
As a young adult, it is also important to surround yourself with people that will help you improve as a person. Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“The similitude of a good friend and a bad friend is like a perfume seller and a blacksmith. The perfume seller might gift you perfumes, or you might buy it from him, or you might smell its fragrance. As for the blacksmith, he might burn your clothes, or you might breathe the repugnant smell.”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari & Muslim)
This hadith perfectly describes the importance of keeping good influences. Bad influences can lead a young adult down the wrong path. For young adults, it might be hard to recognize when a friend is a bad influence. As a parent, you must help your child realize if a friend is a bad influence or not, and help them make the decision to distance themselves from it future problems associated with him/her. Doing this in a harsh manner might make things worse. The best course of action is to sit down and have a talk with your child. Make them feel like they have the freedom to decide what to do, and that their feelings and opinions are heard. Keeping positive friendships is essential in a young adult’s life. They allow young adults to share their interests with other people, develop social skills, and overall give them a sense of belonging. For parents, being mindful of who your child spends time with is beneficial, as it gives you a doorway into your child’s life. Encourage your child to spend time with good people and to participate in activities that will benefit them in the long run. Leading your child down a path of success will not only help them, but will also strengthen the bond between you for years to come, inshaAllah, God willing.
Uthman Guadalupe is a Latino Muslim college student with a passion for history and art. He is an assistant Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coach and freelance illustrator. He is fluent in Spanish and lives with his family in Maryland where he also enjoys playing video games and binging shows.
Add new comment