Friends for Life

A troubled teen girl here was recently talking about her best friend from childhood, regretting how she cast her aside once they hit junior high for new friends that were "cooler"---the so-called friends who got her into drugs.  It prompted a discussion of true friendship, something that often eludes troubled teens, and the whole idea of respect.  The girl admitted she is still too caught up in her own concerns most of the time to care about anyone else's.  Yet that is the crux of friendship.  Beyond the love, the comfort, and the fun they add to life, friends are there to support us, especially when we're trying to steer clear of trouble, and they should expect the same guidance and support from us.

A therapeutic boarding school, where teens are together 24/7, is a crucible for learning what makes a true friend.  For many of our students, the friends they make at FFS stay friends for life.