Family or friends?

I agree that friends are important in life; after all humans are social animals and they need people who they can trust and to whom they can rely on. But, family does family not do that already? Do humans really need a lot of friends?
First, scientists have said that no human being can have more than a 5 good friends and a circle of 15 well known acquaintances. If you want to have a good birthday party, you (can) call them up and have a good time together like the good old days. However, let’s be real for a second - most of these individuals are not well trusted and they are probably never going to show up if you have a problem. That’s where family comes along. Your family members are never going to leave you alone in a time of need.
Second, if you get along with your siblings and have a good relationship with your parents, you have everything you need: a community and friends to have fun with. For example, on a weekend, you can go with your brother and see a movie, or you can take your mother to a fundraiser event. Moreover, college friends usually moved away, and if you don't have a good relationship with your family, you’re probably going to start feeling alone and a bit depressed.
Finally, I think schools, teachers and parents, should encourage kids and young adults to develop a better ties with their family. so that in the future they can have healthier communication and communities that they can actually trust and feel protected.
In conclusion, friends are always welcomed, but family is always first.

Well done! Keep up the excellent practice!! - Pearl

A postcard: Visiting your town

Hello Mary,
I'm really excited to see you tomorrow. I think we can meet at the train station. Let me know when your train arrives. I'd like to see you in the historical centre (center in American English) of my city and after we can have a typical aperitif. What do you think about (this plan)?
I'm looking forward to meeting you!
Bye

Riccardo, your English is excellent! Well done!

My experience in high school

Back when I was in elementary school, everything was just like a dream... I could surround myself with the ones who were my friends and everything would be ok.
I have always been really shy so when we started high school, everyone started opening themselves up and they belonged to a bigger group, but I didn't. It didn't appealt to me though.
I guess wanting to remain in my comfort zone made me go through a bad secondary school (alt: high school) period.
I would go skating, walking, to the cinema or to the bowling alley with my friends but they didn't see eye-to-eye with me anymore. My conception is that they felt accepted in that group and they didn't want to go with Jorge, the nerd, so their popularity wouldn't decrease... How superficial teenagers life can be, right? To be honest, I have never forgiven them for doing so.
They wouldn't hang out with me but they wanted me to listen to them every time they were into trouble.
Because I had been bullied before so I just stayed quiet always and tried to avoid eye contact with another human as much as possible so I wouldn't get hurt.
The only reason I wasn't crying in the bathroom every single recess was that I had my Muslim friend Aisha. However, nowadays we are not friends any longer because Islam forbids friendship between men and women so...
Probably When you have low self-esteem people do what they want with you and it can be a tough time.
When 3rd grade arrived, I was a ruin out of a person. The student who was repeating courses was behind me and she seemed scary and dangerous. When she got closer to ask me if we could eat together because she didn't want to go with neither of the preppies or thugs, I was amazed by how kind she actually was.
Nowadays, I can't believe how I was scared by my best friend at that time. Meeting her is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. She demonstrated me what true friendship is and has never let me down since our first shared laughter.
Teenagers can sometimes be cruel sometimes, but we have to stand up for ourselves because with attitude, we can change whatever/anything.

Very good work!!