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，必有吾师”，没有朋友，你无从学习，无从成长，无法达成你的寂寞。因为寂寞不是孤僻，而是一种姿态……
参考翻译（修立芬）
固执己见的管理者和一些权威人士总喜欢用一些陈词滥调。生活中，我们经常会听到这么一句话“物以类聚，人以群分”。而经常和我在一起玩的朋友却是那些优秀学生里的“害群之马”，一群所谓的“失败者”。大学一年级的时候，家长和老师们每天都会嘲笑我这些亲密的朋友们。他们这样警告我：整天和坏学生瞎混，你会堕落，无法毕业，人生前途暗淡。他们以为他们的话会让我清醒过来。
有一次，我正在和我的九年级数学老师派德森先生一起复习数学概念，我的朋友玛丽安跑着经过教室，把头伸了进来，喊了一句“嗨，亚希”，就迅速跑开了。派德森先生皱着眉头很冷淡地说“你凭什么称自己是一名优等生？真正的优等生是不会和那样的人做朋友的。”我也想问问，他又凭什么称自己是一名教师？真正的老师会乐于帮助每一个学生。当然我没有这么说，只是默默的感叹他的无知和无情。他让我离弃青梅竹马的好朋友，只因他们不是优等生。
如果他在说这番话之前简单的思考一下，就会意识到：与我的朋友相比，像他这种带着偏见妄加评论他人的人才会把一个优等生变成差等生。我绝不会看不起玛丽安，她是我大一的时候最好的朋友，尽管她是个差等生，不会上大学。我生活中很多成年人，尤其是我的家长和老师们看到我这些最亲密的朋友们，比如玛丽安，艾丽莎，热娜，利安妮，马文的时候总会问我：“你怎么可以把这些失败者当成你的朋友？”问这样的问题，只能说明他们根本就不懂什么是友情。
友情是无条件的、无偏见的。友情是以相互尊重、彼此欣赏为基础的。这些“权威人士”永远不会懂，为什么我们其中一人做了一些坏事、糗事，其他人会以此为乐好长一段时间。我们在一起，即使什么都不做，也一样快乐。朋友的陪伴总让我感觉特别充实。我们不去谈论什么歌剧、莱温斯基、或者是天气，我们只是随便走走。我们在一起也不会费尽心思去一较高下。我也明白大人们是担心我的朋友会误入歧途。其实我也很替他们担心，但是我不会离开他们。很多时候我会告诉他们那样做是危险的，或是建议他们三思而后行。但是我不会去责备他们，更不会嘲讽他们。当马文卷大麻烟卷的时候，当艾丽莎说她因为宿醉而逃学的时候，当玛丽安说她的新男友在帮派里混的时候，我就会告诉她们，她们的这些做法让我很不安。但我绝不会拿“绝交”这样的话来威胁她们。电视上有这么一则广告，说：你身边的朋友可能正在吸食毒品。但实际上，根本不会有人看完这则广告就有意识的去调查他的朋友是不是吸毒。
