Question 1: Describe a person you disliked at first but ended up being friends with

Sample Answer: Oh, that's a good one. It's definitely gotta be Liam. We met in first year uni, on our introductory psychology course. Honestly, my first impression was… not great. He was really loud, always cracking these really cheesy jokes that no one else found funny, and he had this habit of interrupting everyone. I just thought he was incredibly obnoxious and frankly, a bit arrogant. I avoided him as much as possible, sticking with my quieter group of friends. But then, we ended up in the same study group for a particularly brutal assignment. We were forced to work together, and, surprisingly, he was actually really helpful. He knew the material incredibly well, and he was a surprisingly good explainer once you got past the initial obnoxiousness. We started to chat more during those study sessions, and I discovered he was actually really kind and supportive. He’d even bring in snacks! He also had a really good heart; he volunteered at a local animal shelter, something I found really admirable. So yeah, we became pretty good friends. It just goes to show you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, or in this case, a person by their first impression. We still laugh about how much I disliked him initially.

Question 1: What do you think of making friends online?

Sample Answer: Well, I think making friends online is a bit of a mixed bag, really. On the one hand, it's amazing how easily you can connect with people who share your interests, even if they live halfway across the world. I've joined a few online communities for hiking and photography, and it's been great to share tips and experiences with people I'd probably never meet otherwise. You can also find people who understand you better because you can be more open online, maybe discussing things you wouldn't feel comfortable bringing up face-to-face. But, on the other hand, there's definitely a risk involved. It's hard to really *know* someone online, and there's always the potential for catfishing or encountering people who aren't genuine. So, I think it's important to be cautious and take things slowly. It's good to meet up in person eventually, if it feels right, to make sure the online persona matches reality. It's not a replacement for real-life friendships, but it can be a really valuable supplement, I think.

Question 2: Is it a good idea to make friends with people who are much older than you?

Sample Answer: Um, I think it can be really beneficial, actually. It depends on the people, of course, but older people often have so much life experience they can share. I mean, you get different perspectives, you learn about things you wouldn't normally encounter, and they can offer really valuable advice – on things like careers, relationships, even just how to handle stressful situations. It's not like I'd want *all* my friends to be much older, you know, because you need people your own age to relate to on certain things. But having a few older friends, maybe someone who's a mentor or just a friendly face with a different outlook, I think that's definitely a good thing. It broadens your horizons, basically.

Question 3: Do you enjoy meeting new people?

Sample Answer: Um, it really depends. I mean, I don't actively go out of my way to meet loads of new people, I'm not really that extroverted, you know? But I definitely enjoy meeting people when the situation is right. Like, if I'm travelling, I love chatting to people I meet – you learn so much from different cultures and perspectives. Or if I'm in a class or a group project, I don't mind getting to know my classmates. But I'm not a fan of those forced networking events or anything like that; those feel a bit awkward and unnatural to me. So, yeah, it's a bit of a mixed bag, I guess.

Question 4: Do you think friendship is important?

Sample Answer: Oh absolutely! I think friendship is incredibly important, maybe even more so than some people realise. For me, friends are my support network – people I can rely on for a laugh, a shoulder to cry on, or just someone to grab coffee with. It's really about having those meaningful connections, you know? People who know you well, accept you for who you are, and who you can be completely yourself around. Without those kinds of relationships, life can feel pretty isolating, and I think it’s harder to navigate the ups and downs. Plus, my friends bring so much joy and fun into my life – we share experiences, travel together, and just generally make life more interesting and enjoyable. So yeah, friendship is definitely a top priority for me.

Question 5: Why is it important for some people to make friends with others?

Sample Answer: Well, I think it's really important for a lot of reasons. For starters, having friends just makes life more fun! You have people to share experiences with, whether it's celebrating good times or getting through tough ones. It's also great for your mental health; having a strong support network really helps you cope with stress and feel less lonely. And then there's the practical side – friends can offer help with things you might struggle with, like moving house or needing a ride somewhere. Plus, friendships can broaden your horizons – you learn new things from people with different perspectives and backgrounds, which is really enriching. Ultimately, I think having good friends is crucial for a happy and fulfilling life.