Now I, like almost everybody, love my friends. I love getting to hang out with them, laugh with them and basically just spend time with them. These are the people around whom you can be your true self without fear of judgement. Everybody can relate, I'm sure. Now you can make friends for various reasons: You live in close proximity to one another, you meet at social events, you happen to order the same coffee at the cafe. There are an infinite plethora of reasons to make friends with people, but best friends are something more. In college, you usually tend to make best friends not just with people you share similarities with or people who attend the same clubs or play for the same team as you. No, in college, your closest friends share intense experiences with you, and what could be more intense than grueling homework assignments?
Specifically, assignments from the same major. However, in a liberal arts college, anything goes, which means that regardless of if you and the BFF are both psychology and Spanish double majors with business minors, you could both still have to take the same econ class with your other-majored friends. Which basically means you'll share classes with your friends at some point or other.
This can be just as great as it can be a curse. Here are some pros and cons of sharing class time with a friend — BFF or otherwise.
1. Pro: Having somebody to goof off with and work with.
The boring, stuffy professor turns their back to the class for a to write on the blackboard, and...fun time. Secondly, whenever the professor says the words "group project," you and your friend already know what to do.
2. Pro: Having a truly meaningful pick-me-up when you're down.
Monday madness can get to all of us, but a best friend knows how to bring up the best in you.
3. Pro: You both understand how hard each other work.
No matter how overworked you both are, at least you both can be comfortable knowing that somebody else gets how much work each of you do.
4. Pro: Having some back-up.
Do you know whenever you give your opinion of a text and nobody seems to understand the incredibly intelligent point you've crafted? Your friend will "get it," which can really boost your credibility.
5. Con: They can take a joke too far.
Did they copy your homework and get a better grade than you? Did they crack one too many jokes in front of the whole class? Did they spill ketchup on your new spring sweater? Sometimes, enough can be enough.
6. Con: Sometimes they won't leave you alone.
"Dude... I'm trying to say something here!"
7. Con: When somebody forgets homework, somebody else has to cover.
Don't break the Friend Code. The ultimate gift for you friend: Give your professor a solid alibi.
8. Con: You have to try extra hard to focus with a friend nearby.
One of you usually wants to have fun in place of work, and let's face it: With a friend sitting next to you, who wants to do calculus or discuss "The Metamorphosis?" It's so tempting.
Say what you will, but overall, I think that taking the same class as a friend can be just as much of a curse as it is a blessing. Fun and work are normally oil and water, not meant to mix, but the two liquids are still both highly needed for separate purposes. Perhaps it would be best to experiment for yourself and see if you could find a nice way to "mix" the two.
And remember: The work is always easier with a friend on hand!