Analysis Of The Essay 'Friends' By Christopher Phillips

This essay, “Friends”, was written by the Christopher Phillips. There are mainly seven participants in the Socrates Café to discuss and to explore the meaning of friends. They give out a variety of examples and stories from their life experiences to illustrate what is friends. For example, one of the participants, Sharon, considers “mutual respect and empathy and the ability to forgive are the primary qualities” (90). Also, another participant, Kathie, talks about his brother experience as an English teacher for inmates at a prison, she states that after her brother is befriended them, the prisoners become better people. From the dialogues among the participants, Phillips can draw the conclusion that friends are meaningful and relevant to everyone including him, people are getting closer and enhance each other point of view during the conversation by time. The purpose for Phillips to write this essay is because he wants to …show more content…
In my opinion, I agree with this statement, as a foreign student studying in the college in the United States. I have many chances to make some new friends from different countries. The most important qualities for me to build up a good friendship with other is mutual respect. When I am talking to my friends, I will respect the culture of their countries and trying to understand that. As a result. By doing so, I can absorb much knowledge from different countries which can enhance my ability on thinking in different perspective. For example, as an Asian, I tend to depend more on my friends and family in my life. However, after I talk to American, I learn that Individualism is very important too. As a result, I become a more independent person to fight for my dreams and work harder for my future. From this experience, I learn that we can have the good effect on our friends through the