One day，while my ninth grade math teacher，Mr.Pedersen，was reviewing some math concepts with me，my friend Mariam ran by the classroom，stuck her head in the doorway，called out，“Hi Yassee，”and then ran away.Mr Pedersen looked at me coldly said with a scowl，“How can you call yourself an honors student？A real honors student doesn’t associate with people like that！”I wanted to ask him how he could callhimself a teacher，after all，a real teacher is supposed to want to help everyone.Instead，I sat silent，stunned by his ignorance and cruelty.He wanted me to drop my childhood friends simply because they didn’t place the same importance on schoolwork that I do.If he had thought before speaking，he would have realized that people like him，rather than people like my friends，are better able to turn good students into poor ones by discouraging them with ridiculous comments.I would never slight Mariam.One of my closest friends in freshman year，she was also a below average，non-college bound student.Many of the adults in my life，especially my parents and my teachers，would look at those closest to me：Mariam，Alisa，Zena，Lianne，and Marvin，and ask how I could call these“low-life losers”my friends.But such questions show a lack of understanding of the nature of friendship.

Friendship is unconditional and uncritical，based only on mutual respect and the ability to enjoy each other’s company.These authority figures never saw the way one of us could do something outrageous，and the rest of us would joke about it for days.We would have fun doing absolutely nothing at all—because the company we provided each other with was enough.Rather than discussing operas，Lewinsky，or the weather，we enjoyed just hanging around each other without any one of us trying to outsmart the others.Still，I realized that these adults had a point to be concerned about the direction my friends were heading；I also was concerned for them，but I wasn’t about to leave them.Many times I would advise my friends that some activity may be dangerous or to think thing through before doing something，but I would never claim to hold the moral high ground and to condescend to them.When Marivn would begin rolling joints，when Alisa would tell me she skipped school because of a hangover，or when Mariam would tell me that her new boyfriend wasin a street gang，I expressed my discomfort with their actions.However，I never blackmailed them with the threat of taking my friendship away.Contrary to the commercials on television，you can have friends who use drugs.In fact，probably everyone does without realizing it.

In my junior year，AP U.S.History class，the teacher，Mr.Jacobsen，addressed the class saying：“I bet none of you have ever seen a drug deal！”With a look of absolutely certainly and an odd smile on his face he scanned the room.“I’ve seen a drug deal before，”I answerd.Everyone in the room turned to look at me，either gasping or in disbelief.I realized that maybe my experiences thus far were typical of most of my honors student friends.Despite our varying experiences，I still maintained many friends who were excellent students.Yogita，Nitin，Hans，Vishal，Saurabh，Anuj，Nick，and I have had almost every class together since eighth grade.Nitin and I both love to shop and eat.What is different about shopping with Nitin，however is that we argue about the necessity of high sales tax or discuss the effectiveness of the acting welfare system.Yogita and I always go to the library together and“pull all nighters”at her house.While I do enjoy accomplishing my academic goals and working with this highly motivated group of friends，I also enjoy“the losers，”who to me seem much more sincere any loyal.

In retrospect，I wouldn’t change my ninth grade experience，because I learned many of life’s important lessons from my friends and the ignorance of teachers and administrators.It’s sad to say，but in many of my friends’dangerous actions，I saw what I never wanted to become.In the future，I’d like to continue helping adolescents，in addition to my studies.I have been fortunate thus far in being able to reach out to them through programs like C.H.A.N.G.E For my effort，I have been recognized and was honored to receive the 1998Operation Pride Youth Award formy dedication to helping other kids live a substance free lifestyle.My familiarity with teenagers from all walks of life greatly enhance my ability to both identify with and influence others.I will be a successful adult in the future because I am willing to work with everyone and to give everyone a chance.Hopefully，I will also have the chance to change other kid’s lives for the better.

“三人行，必有吾師”，沒有朋友，你無從學習，無從成長，無法達成你的寂寞。因為寂寞不是孤僻，而是一種姿態……

參考翻譯（修立芬）

固執己見的管理者和一些權威人士總喜歡用一些陳詞濫調。生活中，我們經常會聽到這么一句話“物以類聚，人以群分”。而經常和我在一起玩的朋友卻是那些優秀學生里的“害群之馬”，一群所謂的“失敗者”。大學一年級的時候，家長和老師們每天都會嘲笑我這些親密的朋友們。他們這樣警告我：整天和壞學生瞎混，你會墮落，無法畢業，人生前途暗淡。他們以為他們的話會讓我清醒過來。

有一次，我正在和我的九年級數學老師派德森先生一起復習數學概念，我的朋友瑪麗安跑著經過教室，把頭伸了進來，喊了一句“嗨，亞希”，就迅速跑開了。派德森先生皺著眉頭很冷淡地說“你憑什么稱自己是一名優等生？真正的優等生是不會和那樣的人做朋友的。”我也想問問，他又憑什么稱自己是一名教師？真正的老師會樂于幫助每一個學生。當然我沒有這么說，只是默默的感嘆他的無知和無情。他讓我離棄青梅竹馬的好朋友，只因他們不是優等生。

如果他在說這番話之前簡單的思考一下，就會意識到：與我的朋友相比，像他這種帶著偏見妄加評論他人的人才會把一個優等生變成差等生。我絕不會看不起瑪麗安，她是我大一的時候最好的朋友，盡管她是個差等生，不會上大學。我生活中很多成年人，尤其是我的家長和老師們看到我這些最親密的朋友們，比如瑪麗安，艾麗莎，熱娜，利安妮，馬文的時候總會問我：“你怎么可以把這些失敗者當成你的朋友？”問這樣的問題，只能說明他們根本就不懂什么是友情。

友情是無條件的、無偏見的。友情是以相互尊重、彼此欣賞為基礎的。這些“權威人士”永遠不會懂，為什么我們其中一人做了一些壞事、糗事，其他人會以此為樂好長一段時間。我們在一起，即使什么都不做，也一樣快樂。朋友的陪伴總讓我感覺特別充實。我們不去談論什么歌劇、萊溫斯基、或者是天氣，我們只是隨便走走。我們在一起也不會費盡心思去一較高下。我也明白大人們是擔心我的朋友會誤入歧途。其實我也很替他們擔心，但是我不會離開他們。很多時候我會告訴他們那樣做是危險的，或是建議他們三思而后行。但是我不會去責備他們，更不會嘲諷他們。當馬文卷大麻煙卷的時候，當艾麗莎說她因為宿醉而逃學的時候，當瑪麗安說她的新男友在幫派里混的時候，我就會告訴她們，她們的這些做法讓我很不安。但我絕不會拿“絕交”這樣的話來威脅她們。電視上有這么一則廣告，說：你身邊的朋友可能正在吸食毒品。但實際上，根本不會有人看完這則廣告就有意識的去調查他的朋友是不是吸毒。