Describe a Person You Disliked at First but Ended up Being Friends With
- When and Where It Happened?
- Who was this person?
- Why You Didn’t Like This Person?
- And Explain Why You Were Friendly to This Person on That Occasion.
Okay, this is a very interesting question, and a person comes to my mind immediately. This happened during my college days, in my first year. Her name is Manpreet Kaur.
When and where… it was in our main Business Studies class. Our college, it’s in Jalandhar, and we were all new. I am from Moga, and I was feeling a bit… you know, new and trying to find my way.
Now, why I didn’t like her… honestly, my first impression was just terrible. She came across as extremely arrogant and a total ‘padhaakoo’ (studious-type) or a show-off. She would sit in the front row, and the minute the professor asked a question, her hand would just shoot up. She always had the right answer, and it felt like she was just trying to impress everyone and be the teacher’s pet.
I just found her… ‘extra’. You know? I thought she was one of those overly competitive people who look down on everyone. So, for the first few months, I just kept my distance. I was polite, but I never went out of my way to talk to her. I had my own friends, she had hers.
The whole situation changed because of a group project. Our professor, he had a habit of making the groups himself, and as luck would have it, he put Manpreet and me in the same group of four. I was so upset! I thought, “Oh god, I have to work with her? She’s going to be so bossy and try to do everything herself just to get the top grade.”
But, this is where I learned a big lesson about judging people. When we sat down to actually work, the ‘arrogant’ girl I thought I knew was not there at all. I realized her “showing off” in class wasn’t arrogance; it was genuine passion. She just loved the subject and had read the whole book!
But the main thing was, she was incredibly helpful. She saw I was struggling with a particular accounting concept, and she just said, “Arre, it’s simple, let me show you,” and she sat with me for an hour, patiently explaining it without once making me feel stupid.
We ended up spending the next two weeks in the library, stressing about the project, and I saw the real her. She was actually very funny, very kind, and just as nervous about the presentation as I was. The ‘arrogance’ was just a mask for her shyness. We got the highest grade on that project, and by the end of it, I had found a new best friend. We are still very close, and I often laugh and tell her how much I disliked her in the first week.
Part 3 Questions: Describe a Person You Disliked at First but Ended up Being Friends With
Question 1: Why are people friendly with the person they don’t like?
Arre, for so many reasons, no? The most common one is just… professionalism or what we call ‘duniyadaari’ (worldly wisdom). At your office, you might not like your boss or your teammate, but you have to work with them. So you have to be friendly and polite to get the job done. It’s not being fake; it’s just being mature. Also, in social situations, like a family function or a wedding, if your distant relative you don’t like comes to talk, you can’t be rude, na? You have to smile and be polite. It’s just basic decency.
Question 2: What kinds of people are usually friendly?
I think people who are naturally extroverted and confident are the most friendly. They don’t have that fear of rejection, so they are happy to start a conversation with anyone. They get energy from talking to others. Also, I’ve noticed, people who are genuinely happy with their own lives tend to be more friendly and kind to others, because they are not coming from a place of insecurity. They just smile a lot and are very open.
Question 3: What are the differences between being friendly and polite?
This is a very good question. I think politeness is a necessity; it’s the minimum social rule. Being polite is just saying ‘please,’ ‘thank you,’ and not being rude. It’s about following the rules of society so we can all live together. But friendliness is an option. It’s a choice. Friendliness is warm. It’s when you genuinely smile at someone, ask them how their day was, and actually listen to the answer. Politeness is a duty, but friendliness is a gift, you can say. It has real emotion behind it.
Question 4: What do you think about people who are always straightforward?
Honestly, I have mixed feelings. On one hand, I really respect their honesty. We say in India, they are ‘muh-phatt’ (straightforward on the face). You always know where you stand with them; there is no ‘buttering’ or fakeness. You get the truth. But, on the other hand, sometimes this “straightforward” nature is just an excuse to be rude and insensitive. There is a time and a place for the truth. Sometimes, you need to be diplomatic to avoid hurting someone’s feelings. So, honesty is good, but honesty without empathy can be very damaging.
