The Virtue of Friendship by Kyla L.

At the end of each school year, fifth graders at Archway Glendale are asked to write a speech about one of the nine virtues they have learned during their elementary education at Great Hearts. Today, we will explore the virtue of Friendship as written by rising sixth grader, Kyla L.

Friendship is all about being kind. When someone is having a bad day or feeling all alone, sometimes all you need is a friend. Friendship is also about trust and always being there for each other. Friends are there to celebrate you and support you through the hard times. I would like to share some examples of friendship from our 5th grade Literature and History lessons.

For example, in The Secret Garden, Mary was lonely in India and didn’t have any friends. That all changed when she moved to Misselthwaite Manor and met Dickon who taught her many things about nature. The theme of friendship is also seen in Dickon’s relations with Mary and Colin as the two nurse Colin back to health.

In our history lesson about the Civil War, Harriet Tubman’s display of this virtue was tremendous. As she had love for those that were kind to her and those that abused her. She extended her hand to those she knew, and strangers in need. All while taking enormous risks with her own hard-won freedom.

At Archway Glendale there’s this spot on the playground where a bench sits for those needing a friend. You could be having a bad day or just wanting someone to talk to. The bench is a reminder to us to be there for other people and that’s what friendship is truly about.

I’m looking forward to meeting new people and forming new friendships. I know that Glendale Prep will be challenging but with friends by our side we can do hard things. This relates to my virtue because showing kindness is good for the soul. I’d like to share a quote by John Evelyn, “Friendship is the golden thread that ties the heart of the world.” We must always remember to value our classmates as we move on to Glendale Prep.

Do you have a story or know of a story that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts?  Please contact jason.moore@greathearts.org.