Part 3: Childhood Friendships

1. Why do childhood friendships often leave a deeper mark than adult ones?

Because childhood friendships are formed before life gets… complicated. You’re not calculating, you’re not networking—you just click over silly games and shared snacks. These bonds often leave a deeper mark because they’re made when your heart’s still wide open. You’re innocent, your world is small, and that friend probably helped you navigate your first heartbreak or protected you from a school bully. That kind of support stays with you.

🔹 Từ vựng hay & nghĩa tiếng Việt:

• leave a deeper mark – để lại dấu ấn sâu sắc
• click over silly games and shared snacks – kết bạn qua trò chơi và đồ ăn vặt
• navigate your first heartbreak – vượt qua nỗi đau đầu đời
• protected you from a school bully – bảo vệ bạn khỏi bắt nạt học đường

2. In what ways do childhood friendships influence who we become later in life?

They help form the foundation of our identity. Through childhood friendships, we learn how to share, how to play fair, and sometimes how to stand up for ourselves. I think they also influence how we form adult relationships—whether we’re open, guarded, or desperate for approval. A childhood friend who guided you through dark times or gave you a hand when you felt alone is often the blueprint for what we seek in others.

🔹 Từ vựng hay & nghĩa tiếng Việt:

• foundation of our identity – nền tảng hình thành bản thân
• how to share / how to play fair – cách chia sẻ / chơi công bằng
• stand up for ourselves – biết bảo vệ chính mình
• guided you through dark times – dìu dắt bạn qua giai đoạn khó khăn
• gave you a hand when you felt alone – giúp đỡ khi bạn cảm thấy cô đơn

3. Do you think people are better at maintaining friendships now than in the past? Why or why not?

Well, we’ve got more tools now—texts, voice notes, memes—but I’m not convinced that makes us better at friendship. Some relationships have gone digital-only, and that often lacks depth. In the past, you had to show up in person, make real time for each other. These days, you can have a close friend on paper, but still suffer from isolation and depression because no one’s truly present.

🔹 Từ vựng hay & nghĩa tiếng Việt:

• digital-only – chỉ tồn tại trên mạng
• show up in person – xuất hiện thật sự, gặp mặt trực tiếp
• close friend on paper – bạn thân… trên lý thuyết
• suffer from isolation and depression – trải qua cô lập và trầm cảm

4. Why do some childhood friendships fade over time while others last for decades?

I think it boils down to whether you grow in the same direction or drift apart. Some friends become business partners, travel buddies, or stay in touch because of shared values. Others, despite having a close bond as kids, start to pursue different paths or hold different viewpoints—and that eventually drives a wedge between them. It’s not always personal; it’s just life doing its thing.

🔹 Từ vựng hay & nghĩa tiếng Việt:

• drift apart – xa cách dần
• business partners / travel buddies – đối tác kinh doanh / bạn đồng hành
• shared values – giá trị chung
• pursue different paths – đi theo con đường khác nhau
• hold different viewpoints – có quan điểm khác
• drive a wedge between them – gây chia rẽ giữa họ

5. How do children’s friendships differ from those of adults in terms of honesty and loyalty?

Children are unfiltered—they’ll tell you the truth straight to your face, even if it hurts. Adults, on the other hand, tend to be more sugar-coated, calculating, and often choose to keep peace rather than speak their minds. Kids also make friends fast, based on instinct—“Wanna play?” and boom, best friends. Adults? We tend to take advantage of connections or navigate friendships with caution.

🔹 Từ vựng hay & nghĩa tiếng Việt:

• unfiltered – không che giấu, thẳng thắn
• tell you the truth straight to your face – nói thẳng vào mặt bạn
• sugar-coated – nói ngọt để dễ nghe hơn
• calculating – toan tính
• keep peace – giữ hoà khí
• take advantage of connections – lợi dụng mối quan hệ
• navigate friendships with caution – điều hướng mối quan hệ một cách cẩn trọng

6. Can a person’s social circle during childhood affect their success in adulthood?

Absolutely. The people around you when you’re young shape your worldview, inspire your habits, and even influence how you handle pressure. If you grew up with friends who were supportive, curious, or ambitious, you’re more likely to carry that energy into adult life. But if you were surrounded by toxic friendships, it might take years to unlearn bad emotional patterns.

🔹 Từ vựng hay & nghĩa tiếng Việt:

• shape your worldview – định hình thế giới quan
• inspire your habits – truyền cảm hứng cho thói quen
• handle pressure – đối mặt áp lực
• toxic friendships – tình bạn độc hại
• unlearn bad emotional patterns – gỡ bỏ thói quen cảm xúc tiêu cực