18. Some people say that it is difficult to get to know someone much older or younger than yourself. How do you feel about it?

In the past, I felt that knowing people who are older or younger than me is a very difficult task. However now, I find it to be less of a challenge. This is because when I was influenced by my good friends, Melissa and Tiffany, who were the more talkative and noisy ones. As compared to me when I was in primary school and in secondary 1, I was rather quiet and a less vocal girl. Due to this, I interacted less with my seniors or even juniors in primary school and secondary school, what more people outside who are much younger or older than me.
Yet, now I know juniors from my CCA and other CCAs through Melissa and even Tiffany. I also know how to make friends with them and interact with them. As for people who are older than me, after being a vice-chairperson of my class, I had to be more vocal and I started to talk a lot more to teachers. Under the influence of my friends, knowing someone older or younger than me is less of a problem now. I find that having someone younger or older than you is a blessing. They can actually help us in many ways, socially and emotionally. If you are afraid of making that first step, maybe you could have a gathering with some close friends and other people, so that it would be less awkward.
In conclusion, I find that having to know someone older or younger than me is something that everyone should have because it is always nice to have another friend.
- Corrina