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Friendships are one of the most important things at school – they can be the best support, or they can be hurting you more than you know.

If your friendships are making you feel unhappy or anxious, and there are constant dramas, it can affect everything else at school, like your energy levels, marks, attitude and self-confidence.

So have your friends got your back?

If they have the qualities of one of the five faces of friendship or a combination of them – then you are very lucky – these guys will always have your back and will be there to get you through ups and downs at school, and in life!

Now is a great time to think about which of the 5 you are too!

HAPPY FACE

They want the best for you. They can see your strengths and want to help you reach your potential. They don’t derail you or talk you down. They don’t tell you that none of it is worth it. They look to the future, and particularly your future, with lots of positivity.

Happy face

FEEL GOOD FACE

They make you feel good about yourself, don’t hold grudges, and never humiliate you (like constantly reminding you and everyone else about that silly thing you did/said/wore two years ago). They celebrate with you when you achieve your goals, even when it’s a small win.

Feel good face - the friend that always makes you feel good

CONSISTENT FACE

They hang out with you ALL the time, not only when it’s convenient for them. They don’t ‘forget’ to invite you to something or ‘forget’ to show up to something you’ve organised.

Consistent face - friends that are consistently there

TRUSTED FACE

You know the horror when someone you trust spills the beans on something big for you. You might allow it once but be wary of repeat offenders. We all need someone we can talk to, to vent and unburden ourselves, and we need to know that the conversation stays private.

Some of us are dealing with some pretty heavy stuff and having a trusted friend can be the main thing that gets us through. In the same way, a trusted friend is willing to tell you the truth too – even when we don’t want to hear it.

Trusted face - friends that you can always trust

LOYAL FACE

They are there for you no matter what and stick around when things get tough.

They love and respect YOU for YOU. There is no judgement….

Loyal face - the friend who is always loyal

 

Is it easy to work out which belongs to each friend?

Can you name which one you are?

Can you see the faces in other friendship groups at school?

Having the support of good friends you can trust at school can make a huge difference to your school experience. So take the time to consider the friends you surround yourself with and make sure they are there for you. You matter as a person and you are worthy of great friends – and a change for the better could lead the way for you to get more out of school than you knew you could.