Nurturing Friendships: Priorities and Changes in Adolescence

1. Year B Module 2: My Relationships 6. Growing in Friendship 6. Growing in Friendship

2. 6. Growing in Friendship 6. Growing in Friendship Growing in Friendship In this unit we will: In this unit we will: ● Name the priorities for friendship. ● Consider how friendships can change during adolescence. ● Deepen awareness of how behaviour impacts the quality of friendships.

3. 6. Growing in Friendship 6. Growing in Friendship Think, pair, share Last year you looked at what friendship meant to you, and you explored the building blocks that can make a strong friendship. What do you think are the most important qualities in a good friend? Pick your top five from the following list and compare with your partner. ● Honest ● Loyal ● Fun ● Good listener ● Kind ● Accepting ● Encouraging ● Trustworthy ● Can keep confidences ● There for you in the tough times ● Compassionate ● Adventurous ● Interesting ● Similar interests Have your opinions on this changed over the last year? Have your opinions on this changed over the last year?

4. 6. Growing in Friendship 6. Growing in Friendship Class discussion Read the following two scenarios and discuss. Read the following two scenarios and discuss. Scenario One Aisling sat beside Nuala in Maths class on their first day of secondary school, and the two became best friends. Now that they’re both in second year, the class groupings have changed and they are no longer in all the same classes. Aisling misses Nuala, and tries to keep connected when she can – by sitting together at lunchtime or by texting after school or at weekends. Soon Aisling notices that she is always the first one to text, and Nuala doesn’t always reply straight away. Aisling feels insecure and rejected – does Nuala not want her as a friend anymore?

5. 6. Growing in Friendship 6. Growing in Friendship 1. Do you think the friendship is equally as important to both Aisling and Nuala? 2. Why do you think Nuala isn’t always good at keeping in touch by text – could it be that she just doesn’t look at her phone as often as Aisling? Or could she be more interested in new friendships? 3. Aisling could say nothing, stop texting and give up on the friendship. Or she could sit down with Nuala and talk about how she’s feeling. Which option would you recommend? Why?

6. 6. Growing in Friendship 6. Growing in Friendship Scenario Two Sean and Patrick have been friends since primary school, and used to do everything together. Patrick took up basketball in secondary school, and stays back for training a few afternoons a week. He gets on really well with the rest of the team and enjoys meeting up with them in town at the weekend. Sean isn’t interested in sport, but has joined the debating team, and finds himself quite busy researching his speeches and chatting to the others on the team. He would like to catch up with Patrick, and is wondering if he would still like to hang out even though they both have different interests now.

7. 6. Growing in Friendship 6. Growing in Friendship 1. Do you think Patrick and Sean should make an effort to stay friends? Why? 2. Do you think Patrick might be interested in going to one of Sean’s debates? Or would Sean be interested in going to a basketball game?

8. 6. Growing in Friendship 6. Growing in Friendship Be connected Think about your friends and how the friendships are changing. What will you do to stay close to the friends who are really important to you?

9. 6. Growing in Friendship 6. Growing in Friendship Build resilience Perhaps write in your journal – what does friendship mean to you? Think about how your friends have made a positive difference in your life… How do you think you have made a difference in your friends’ lives? Who are the people that are really there for you when you need them? Always remember God knows you better than you know yourself and you can talk to Him just like a friend. Truth is, He is your BEST and CLOSEST friend and Jesus called his disciples “friends.”