Four Years for a Lifetime of Joy

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the importance of building friendships in the critical first year of college. Through a series of anecdotes about the college years and beyond, we explore how those crucial friendships not only provide support and joy during those formative years, but also for a lifetime. The anecdotes chronicle the friendship of Landas Lockett and Janet Stewart, best friends since they met at Bennett College in 1977. Next there are a series of anecdotes about the friendship of Laina Lockett, Ta Misha Bascombe, and Vanessa Edwards that began when they met in 2009 and attended the University of Pittsburgh. Through both generations you can see parallels of how their friendship brought them joy through their experiences in college and provided the foundation of finding joy through the hardships that they faced once they graduated including job loss, divorce, and familial losses. Lastly, a few key sources will be connected to the anecdotes as a way to further show evidence for the importance of these types of friendships for success and well-being.