While I was talking with some Sherman friends this weekend, I had an interesting revelation. The Sherman family not only adopts all who walk through the "hallowed-halls" of the Scallon building, but it also has the ability to absorb your friendships to a certain extent. This realization came about when I was commenting on friendships with two 8th quarter students. One said that their friends were all Sherman students now. The other student agreed. I was surprised. I am a younger Sherman student so my friends in Michigan are still in the same undergraduate program that I left behind. Therefore, I still feel the influence of friends going as far back as high school. It is crazy to think that after a time I will adapt to mostly Sherman peers/friends.
Maybe this was a special circumstance, but the more I think about relationships, the more I realize they are about time spent together. I believe if you spend a lot of time with someone, you will be friendlier with them almost regardless of how you actually feel about them. Some friendships are truly genuine and others are simply friendships of convenience.
So starting today, I am going to call some old friends and begin to be more intentional about cultivating lasting friendships. After all, cultivation implies a stake in the game and a dedication to working hard. That is what friendship is about; a commitment. I hope to make some of the best relationships ever while at Sherman since we are a family. I also hope to keep other relationships strong over a distance. I hope others will join me and call an old friend they haven’t talked to in a while.
