With a little help from my friends

Day 87 / 366

Placement time at colleges like IITs is stressful. I have experienced it firsthand. Not only are you worried about getting a good job that you like, but you also have the weight of the expectations of your family and relatives that you will get a 1 crore package on Day 1 of placements.

This pressure breaks many people, especially those who fail to get placed in the first few days. Some even stop applying for companies or showing up for interviews. But I saw something really wholesome happen in these cases. Each student who was not placed would have 3–4 of his friends who have been placed encouraging and helping them.

They would force them to get up and apply for jobs, they would go with them to all the interviews and do all the paperwork for them. They would make sure that they stay positive and motivated. None of this help would have been asked by the person themselves. It’s just what friends do.

My objective in telling you this anecdote is that friends like this exist. People you never have to ask for help. They recognize when you are struggling and show up. These are the kind of people everyone needs in their lives.

They say that we get the love we think we deserve. That is why some of us settle for people who would never love us unconditionally. They might be there when things are good, but when you really need them you might have to beg them to help you out.

I am terrible at keeping long-term friendships. I have great friends who I would not talk to for months on end. But I am grateful that they still show up when I need them. Many times without even asking, it's like the universe realizes that I am having a hard time and sends someone to save the day.

If you have friends like this in your life, you should cherish them. That is what true friendship is, and you should not settle for anything less. After all, a friend in need is a friend indeed.