By: Jaley Adkins
Crafting friendship bracelets is a longstanding tradition of the Governor’s Scholars Program. I was very excited to learn how to weave string to create intricately designed bracelets. As ready as I was to make them, I soon registered how hard it was. From this realization, I learned a lot about life, friendships, and GSP.
For my first bracelet, I chose several shades of pink which faded into white. I had the first knot tied and was eagerly anticipating completing the rest of the bracelet. It did not take long for me to get frustrated with myself. It seems pretty ridiculous, but I was so hard on myself for making a bracelet that was less than perfect. I kept thinking, I can sew and quilt so why is this so difficult for me?
At the time, I didn’t realize that these thoughts were taking away from the purpose of making friendship bracelets- making them with your friends. It was when I stopped and looked around at the people I was sitting with that I realized how nonsensical it was for me to be worrying about how bad or good my bracelet was. It was the people and the relationships the bracelet represents that mattered.
The bracelets are a reminder and symbol of the people you crafted the bracelets with, or that made the bracelet for you. I recently got a letter from my friend at Centre’s GSP. The letter was heartfelt and sweet. It was accompanied in the envelope by a friendship bracelet.
Knowing the amount of time that goes into making one, I appreciated the sentiment even more and mailed her one the next day. I love that these bracelets allowed us to connect to each other, even though we are far apart.
To me, the bracelets also represented the phrase “good things take time”. I am very slow at making them, but seeing the end product makes all the time devoted to making bracelets worth it. Additionally, it showed me that not everything in life will come easily. Friendship bracelets also confirmed for me that sometimes you have to undo some knots to create the beautiful life you deserve.
This is a very deep approach a simple craft, but I believe it is important to take time to look at everything from a perspective that allows you to see things in this light. I have always been an advocate of looking past the surface of things because that is where you learn and grow. As I continue to string together bracelets and friendships while at GSP, I will always keep in mind what I have learned from them.
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