National Make A Friend Day, an unofficial holiday that encourages people create new friendships, is Tuesday, and Eastern students reflected on what friendship means to them.

Destiny Rowel, a freshman undecided major, said that making friends can be possible just by starting a simple introduction.

“I’m kind of shy, so I don’t really know,” Rowel said, “but you have to just talk to somebody, introduce yourself.” 

Katherine Hartke, a freshman pre-nursing major, said that first impressions were important in making friends. 

“Especially when you first meet someone and how they talk to you because if they’re just going up to you and dissing other people trying to be friends with you, that’s stupid,” Hartke said. “You should just be real and upfront.” 

Mario Smith, a freshman education major, said that making friends is a thing that just happens naturally.

“Typically, I find a common interest or start an interesting topic, talk about sports or politics or anything that’s relevant today.” Smith said. “Most of the time, I’ll just be in a random place and somebody might say something to me, and I might crack a joke here and there, and then now we’re friends. It just kind of happens like that sometimes.”

Erica Butler, a freshman history major, also said that friendships just happen sometimes.

“I usually just sit around, and then someone starts talking to me,” Butler said.

Students also reflected on the importance of friendship.

Rowel said that friendship is about being able to trust the person and spend time together.

“I guess you just have to really trust somebody and care for them,” Rowel said. “I don’t do much, so my friends are the ones who usually pull me out of the house and we just go hang out — just sit around and enjoy each other’s presence.”

Butler said that friendship is about having someone to lean on during difficult times. 

“It’s about companionship — someone you can trust, and not being alone.”

Smith said that friendship is all about quality versus quantity.

“It’s not really about the amount of friends you have,” Smith said. “It’s just about that one particular friend that you know that’s really genuine and sincere and not, to use a slang term, ‘phony’ or ‘fake.’”

Students have some characteristics they look for in the friends they make. Rowel said that honesty and kindness are important characteristics in a friend.

“Honesty, honesty, honesty,” Rowel said, “and just kindness, because a friend is somebody you’re supposed to be able to lean on, so you want somebody you can trust, who you can just talk to.”

Hartke said that being real and honest is the best quality in a friend. 

“Definitely honesty, not afraid to go out of their comfort zone and be themselves,” Hartke said.

Butler said that a good quality in a friend is someone who can carry on a conversation. 

Smith said a good sense of humor is also important. 

“If you can laugh at my stupid jokes, then you’re my friend,” Smith said.

Allison Little can be reached at 581-2812 can be reached at dennewsdesk@gmail.com.