# data[].attributes.body
I have learned that friend isn't always there for you, especially with covid going on, they only contact you when they need something.

# data[].attributes.body
Friendship has showed me a lot this year. I only have a couple friends because i learned not a lot of people mean what they say or take you for granted. This year I learned who my real friends are.

# data[].attributes.body
I learned that if you open up to people you better watch them. cause you never know whos gonna turn and stab you in the back.

# data[].attributes.body
I learned that sometimes when you think that someone is your friend they don't feel the same way so you have to be careful.

# data[].attributes.body
Actually, I've never had friends so I am not experienced in this theme. I see my older brother and my parents still have the same friends as earlier. Mostly they chat with them online and look happy with this. I think it depends what do you need from friendship.

# data[].attributes.body
I have learned that they are really hard sometimes especially with covid going on. Long distance is one of the hardest things. Covid is bringing some people apart and some together and it's creating new friendships.I am definitely grateful for  my friend group and they have stuck by me very well even with the pandemic.They have become more than friends they have become family.

# data[].attributes.body
I would say that friendship is something that all of us take for granted. The pandemic showed me who the most important people were and that stuck through different things through out the whole thing. I have gained many great relationships that I don't think I would have if it weren't for the pandemic. I also lost some relationships/friendships when all of this happened.

# data[].attributes.body
In this year I have learned that friendship is beautiful but you have to know how to choose, since there are many people who call themselves "friends" and in reality they are not.

# data[].attributes.body
I personally wouldn't say that the pandemic was a direct changing factor in my friendships. The people around me showed how they really felt, admittedly maybe due to the stress of Covid, but they decided to show how they really felt over the past year. Disagreements came from the effects of the pandemic, so I'd generally say that it was a damaging factor in the situation. More positively, the internet was a great place to connect to others over the past year. Being able to learn from others from all around the world is always an exciting experience, and to bond over a shared event like that is key to many new friendships I've developed since the first lockdown.

# data[].attributes.body
During this dumb pandemic my social circle hasn't really changed. I still hangout with the same people I did.

# data[].attributes.body
Friendship can change in a heartbeat. You can go from being super close to not even talking to each other anymore. I had an experience like this once the school year began. I had someone who I can talk too and be silly, but due to my jealousy, I lost her..

Don't let your jealousy get you over someone else. Even if you know them and they might do something, they are their own human being.

Friendship is nothing to play with, it can really ruin others.

# data[].attributes.body
This year really showed me those who are important in my life. The one's who have stuck by even when We couldn't hang or go places. my friend group got bigger, but I lost a couple of people.

# data[].attributes.body
I've learned a lot about friendship. My social circle seems to constantly be changing. I meet so many new people; sometimes we're friends for that day and I never see them again, sometimes they've become a person I hangout with a lot. I've learned that not everyone will always be around, and even the most unlikely kind of people can become friends. I've also learned that being friendly as much as possible leads to a lot of great experiences, which I never would have had if I hadn't taken the first step to say "Hi" I feel like many people would disagree with being so friendly, as many prefer a small circle. But many fail to consider that there are multiple circles, and you can have super close friends while others that are just on good terms. I think the future will lead to more friendships and hopefully people I can count on.

# data[].attributes.body
I wouldn't say that the pandemic shrunk my social circle, although I did lose some people really close to me. I gained new friends, and discovered who by real friends were. I think the pandemic actually helped me in that sense, it sort of sped up the process of finding who were actually my friends.

# data[].attributes.body
The pandemic made me realize that I didn't have many true friends that would be there when somethings happens. I lost contact with pretty much everyone except one or two people. I've always been friendly with everyone but I think its nice to know that most of those people wouldn't be there for me when I need it. Even though I lost touch with a lot of people I learned many new things about myself and my mental health improved dramatically.

# data[].attributes.body
nothing has changed. i never really had friends. in my old school everyone hated me so since i moved i have friends i guess. my family hasn't changed. so yeah nothing has changed

# data[].attributes.body
It's become more clear how good a true friend can be. A lot of people had problems with seeing their friends and hanging out. I didn't have any problems though; my friends and I took more to video games and voice chats to talk and hangout while staying inside. Some of your friends and you can really grow distant and look at different things you wouldn't expect in a seek for something more to do with all the new a strange changes in the world. But the distancing makes the effort of your friends more obvious, which can show you who has your back more than others, and who's a "true friend."

# data[].attributes.body
This year I learned that evidently friendships aren't actually that essential, at least to the people who have made the "guidelines" for school this year. My work at school hasn't been any easier or harder, and frankly there are people that I'm kind of happy I didn't have to see again.

# data[].attributes.body
The pandemic just made me realize who was important in my life. The people that actually checked in on me and made me feel safe were there for me. There were also people who made an effort and took the right precautions to be able to see me. Thankfully we are finally able to get the vaccine I can be around my grandparents. This makes me happy.

# data[].attributes.body
The pandemic just clarified who is most important to me. I have gotten really close to many people throughout the pandemic. During these time there were some really boring times and my friends and family made it less boring.  I grew in some relationships and lost some relationships but for the better. I grew in relationship with my parents because both of my siblings are in college so it's just me in the house.

# data[].attributes.body
Iv'e mainly leanred that its almost better to just be with one person most of the time cause when there the only person you need and want theres nothing more that you could want.

# data[].attributes.body
My Social circle hasn't shrunk too much as I talk to most of my friends via discord so that didn't change much. I did find myself hanging out with my friends more as i could meet them at school. One thing i missed at the start of the pandemic was my cybersecurity class as there's only 3 other people (2 of which i was already friends with)  in the class so we all know each other, plus the class is a lot of fun since the teacher is really nice.

# data[].attributes.body
This year I have learned that friendship is such a special thing. Friends are people who stick by your side no matter what. All during the pandemic and this year, my friends and I have talked, and made sure we were all okay. My friends are a part of my family.

# data[].attributes.body
You can see who actually cares about you. Friends that you used to talk daily suddenly they stop talking. You make new friends by play video games or people that used to talk. My circle become smaller made new friends over time.

# data[].attributes.body
I learned never trust someone who acts like your friend but they really are not your friend.

# data[].attributes.body
Friendship is something that we all take for granted. We often think we have friends in people, but when faced with difficult decisions or scenarios, it often turns out they they're willing to abandon their "friends" in order to advance themselves. True friends are rare to come by. People you meet will always have some sort of impact, and those who stick around the longest are the ones who make the most difference. I would say I have lost a lot of "acquaintances" but gained more friends. Shallow friendships were the ones that withered away during the pandemic, which let those true friendships really shine.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Have You Learned About Friendship This Year?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Students in U.S. high schools can get free digital access to The New York Times until Sept. 1, 2021. How did the pandemic affect your friendships? Did you find yourself relying on a small, tight circle? How many people outside your family were you in regular contact with, whether via text, social media, Zoom, online gaming or even in-person events?