9 LESSONS EVERY STUDENT SHOULD LEARN FOR BUILDING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

Relationships are part of every stage of life, especially as a student. From the friends who help you survive tough exam seasons or stressful lecture days, to your roommates who you practically share food with, or colleagues you’ll meet after graduation. But good relationships don’t just “happen”. They require skills, the same way passing exams requires more than just last-minute cramming. Healthy relationships are not built on perfection but on intentional habits

Here are 9 lessons every student should learn for building healthy relationships:

1.      Communication: Say what you mean but say it kindly. People can’t read your mind. Don’t always expect that people can understand gestures and unsaid words. You have to state your thoughts, opinions and feelings in clear terms, sometimes.

2.      Active Listening: Don’t just hear; actually listen. Be present, not absent minded. One thing that is easy to overlook, by people, is effective listening. You need to understand what the person is saying. Be quiet when you need to be and chip in, when you need to. Sometimes people just want to feel understood.

3.      Conflict Resolution: Disagreements are normal. Learn to argue without turning it into World War III. Sometimes, it’s best to just avoid or prevent these fights from happening. Even when it happens, ensure that it doesn’t become something you can’t contain.

4.      Respect boundaries: Respect yours and others’ boundaries. Even best friends need breathing space. This is very important to co-exist peacefully and healthily.

5.      Empathy: Step into someone else’s shoes before reacting. Trust me, it would save a lot of drama. Enquire for facts before you judge. Make sure you understand the feelings of people you deal with, so you won’t be causing more harm.

6.      Self-Awareness: Know your strengths and flaws. It would help you show up better for others. Understand how far you can stretch yourself, so people don’t put you on an overly pressurizing pedestal, and then you feel overwhelmed in the long run.

7.      Respect: From classmates to roommates to even junior colleagues, everyone deserves your respect. No shortcuts.

8.      Adaptability: Life happens; People grow, and situations change. Flexibility keeps relationships alive. Try to adapt to people’s behaviours. Afterall, you can stretch yourself, until when you think you can’t have it anymore.

9.      Gratitude: A simple “thank you” goes a long way. Don’t wait for birthdays to show appreciation. Buy your friends or roommates something from Captain Cook on your way back from classes. It might be cringe, but sometimes, cringe is all it takes.

In short, relationships aren’t just about vibes; they’re about growth. And the earlier you start, the better you’ll thrive.