I don't care about you. In a universal human sort of way, sure, but I don't care what you do or what you think. It's important for you to hear something from someone older than your peers and younger than you parents- someone without a remarkable interest in you- because you will not hear from someone that fits that description for a potentially very long time.
Please do not confuse this interest with the level of interest you have in yourself. This applies to the times you make mistakes that no one notices, and also the times you succeed and no one notices. That's not to say you aren't talented and special, but every moment you spend gauging other's feelings about you could be used to develop what makes the ones that matter- the very few invaluable people you will meet in you life that will help you grow- pay attention.
Often, we would hope, these people are our parents, family members, coaches, and teachers, but as you know, this is not always the case. We would also hope that these people want the best for you, that is not always the case either. The sooner you stop putting your hope in people, the better. This is not because they will always let you down; there will absolutely be heroes and heroines in your story as sure as enemies. You should stop putting your hope in people because it is impossible to tell them apart.
You should also stop because your hope is not the responsibility of others. That is how you hurt the people that not only notice you, but care enough to listen with more than just curiosity. It's how you alienate those who admire you, and how you fall into traps of users and freeloaders.
If you somehow reach adulthood miraculously spared from every user, from every potential attack upon you body and soul, then you are your own enemy and those nearby are assuredly not friends in the true since. A true friend inspires you to be yourself by being themselves in your proximity. They don't always make it to your birthday party, and they will often tell you what you don't want to hear. They also see you screw up, and if you listen closely to their response, they almost always tell you it's not that big of a deal, and they are always right about that.
Other people are right more often than you give them credit for, but disagreement is an acquired taste- many adults also confuse advice with criticism. If you want to be surrounded by friends, sooner or later you must choose to see these words for what they are- invitations to share an opinion. If they are promising more, they also expect it.
I do not promise more. Some of my opinions will not be of value to you, maybe none. I don't care what you think, but I expect that you can.
Friends?
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