THE FRIENDS
By Jason Joseph
Radio talk draft

I remember this one Friday evening I got a call from Mbali: “Jason! Where are you? Take Rhodedtrip down to Oldies now!” That road to Olde' 65, was the road to the greatest group of friends I will ever know – no, family!

In the beginning of my first year I was very self-conscious. I just wanted people to like me. But I found that it’s better to be disliked for who you are, rather than accepted for who you are not.

“Jason!” came my name from an elated source across the room, over the sound of laughter and clinking glasses. Mbali, Lesedi, Fadzai, Pumi, Farai all jump up and hug me. Their sweet perfumes smell the scent of acceptance and love.

“Yes, I agree with you on that point!" and there stood Masetshaba. We smiled at each other, had a connection, and just didn’t stop talking from that moment on. We were in a queue that snaked up the stairs of the Drama department; the first years were filing into the theatre to watch a performance in O-Week... It was an instant click and a perfect fit. Now we spend countless hours at the Africa Media Matrix together, warm up for auditions together, trot along with each other to buy textbooks and whatever else needs to get done. And of course, filled with the spirit of the Cousins Four, we often take over the streets of Grahamstown.

What I appreciate most about my friends are the moments of stillness. Moments at Debonairs or Pirates, with the smell of pizza filling our nostrils, the sound of bustling students all around, that become silenced by the smile of a friend who thinks you are silly but still smiles anyway and enjoys your company.

I was not certain of my place in the grander scheme of life or Rhodes. My friend Veronica once told me: “Highschool is the place where you discover who you are. After School is when you can live that out.” I add to that that freshman year is the year you find unity amongst a diversity of people, but at the same time find your own diversity in the unity that you have found. I have a very cosmopolitan group of friends. But somehow, we find something in common that unites us as friends. But even still, we are so different whilst being one group of crazy people. That is what helps me cope. The family I chose - that chose me, that accepts me, even though I am a little different and silly and way out there, they still want me around because I add something special to the pot that gives it such a desirable taste.

We all just have this inherent need to be wanted - loved - to fit in. Friends accept you just as you are and help make sense of this crazy world. Friends are the roadmaps to the destination that is understanding your own self…