Friends come in many packages. True. Funny. Close. Nice. Secret. Tell Everything to. Helpful. Loving. Old. New. Smart. Stupid. Best. Whichever one they are, they are all important and should be celebrated, thanked, and should know how much they mean to us.

This week is the annual Friendship Week put on by PAL where CdM students acknowledge their privileges and benefits of having friends. Some people just take their friends for granted and do not realize the importance and value their share with us. “Lean on me, when your not strong. “Lean on me, when you’re not strong, and I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on, for it won’t be long, ’til I’m going to need somebody to lean on.” As this verse from Bill Wither’s “Lean On Me” states, we all need a friend and we all need to be a friend. Without friends, do you really think you would be able to survive?

“The purpose of friendship week to bring CdM closer together as a school by encouraging kids to make new friends,” said junior Austin Pollard.

Every day of this week has a different theme. On Monday, “Make a New Friend Day,” go up to someone who is looking a bit lonely and start talking to them. Tuesday is “Compliment Day,” so be a nice person and go around handing out compliments, because like friendship, they are free. On Wednesday, it is “Hug Day,” where you give hugs to all of your friends. Thursday is “Twin Day,” so dress up with your friends in matching outfit to show your friendly spirit. Lastly, Friday is “High ‘5′ Day” which is pretty self-explanatory.

“The main goal of this week is to make CdM more close-knit. Maybe help some kids out who really need a friend. And I’m not saying the whole school is going to be closer after this week, but as long was we help at least a couple of kids make new friends, then we’ve achieved our goal,” said sophomore Maddy Markley.

The great philosopher Aristotle said, “In poverty and other misfortunes of life, true friends are a sure refuge. They keep the young out of mischief; they comfort and aid the old in their weakness, and they incite those in the prime of life to noble deeds.” This is very true and is how we have all grown to develop in our youth through our old ages for generations.

As you can see, friends are of great importance and should be celebrated. That is what this week is all about — the celebration of our love for our wonderful friends.