Growing up throughout my life, friendships have been invaluable to me. Growing up as an only child meant that at home, there was no interaction with children my age aside from my neighbors. Because of this, the friendships I formed throughout my early life at daycare programs and elementary school were critical to my social development as a person. Countless days of going to after-school daycare still resonate with me to this day. It was the breezy autumn afternoons getting off of the bus with my friends from school as we arrived at our after-school daycare. Followed by competitive games on our Nintendo 3DS before going out to the playground with the daycare worker to play games such as freeze tag and hide and seek. The impact of early friendship can best be described by Dr. Vitaro, a professor of psychoeducation at the University of Montreal, when he states, "The social bonding perspective emphasizes the bright side of friendships and stresses that friends—mostly conventional friends—contribute positively to children's emotional, cognitive, academic, and behavioral functioning." (Vitaro et al., 2009). The effects of my relationships with my friends align with Dr. Vitaro's statement. They have shaped me into who I am today and taught me valuable life lessons.

Friendships continued to shape my identity as I progressed throughout my teenage years into high school. The independence accompanied by growing older meant that I could experience more that the world had to offer. The friendships that I had formed throughout high school provided me with a sense of belonging, fighting off the loneliness that is common in lonely children. The energy of football games under the bright stadium lights of warm August Fridays resonates with me. Cheering loudly with those around me offered a strong sense of community and belonging.

My job at the US National Whitewater Center also offered many different friendships. The free whitewater rafting that came with the position resulted in countless summer nights flying down the channels, flipping the raft, and desperately trying to swim to the side of the channels. After our time on the channels, we would always have dinner at a local restaurant and spend the time joking and laughing about those who fell off the raft.

These experiences and relationships I've had with friends throughout my life go against the stereotype that only children are reclusive and socially awkward, showing that the stereotype holds little value.

Me and my friends whitewater rafting.