Written by Shanna Kirkpatrick, Chara Founder
3.15.2024
The Value of Friendships
As a child, my parents often spoke to me about my “rings of influence”. We want our children to be able to hold positive interactions with a wide range of peers in the outermost ring, but have the innermost ring occupied with a small group of friends that edify one another, positively influence one another, and share common core values.
As Jim Rohn reminds us, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most amount of time with.”
At home, school, Chara Christian Dance Academy and a church home, are often the top places you will find the majority of our students spend their time. Social scientists have named extra curricular activities as a child’s “third place” behind home and school. A place of belonging where they find mentors and friend groups.
I can easily say that watching dancers’ friendships develop is one of my greatest joys as a studio owner. Before Ms. Anna was “Ms. Anna” she was a dancer with us for many years. She and fellow Chara dancer Jamie developed a deep friendship during their time dancing, going on to be college roommates at Mary-Hardin Baylor. Before Ms. Tanner was “Ms. Tanner” she grew her friendship with Audrey inside of our walls. Audrey stood next to Ms. Tanner on her wedding day not too long ago.
As you and I know as adults, sometimes friendships are there for just a season but sometimes friendships last well into adulthood. At Chara Christian Dance Academy, our teachers work to build intentional relationships among all dancers. While not every friend may be a “best friend”, all relationships hold value because the signature of God can be found in each individual. The value of dance friendships, both given value and received value, lives on in who our dancers become long after their dancing days are done.
