Interpersonal Relationship - Essay Example

Stages of a relationship Introduction Ted is my best friend. We have been friends now for the last three years. The friendship isfruitful and has grown progressively within the past three years. The relationship epitomes a perfect relationship and has grown through most of the stages of interpersonal relationship. An interpersonal relationship just as the name suggests is a close acquaintance between two or more people who share interests among other pertinent personal values. The values bring the people together with time thus enhancing the growth of the relationship. The first stage in such relationships is acquaintance and acquaintanceship. My acquaintanceship with Ted began the day we met three years ago when I came into the country for studies from my home country. Ted is an African American and the first time we I met I mistook him for any other African student who was also coming to study in the country on a scholarship as well. It was on my first day at the campus and everything looked different. The place was different and so were the people. Furthermore, I did not know where to go and therefore had to either rely on directions placed on the boards or ask for directions from the people around. My English was not very good and so communication was difficult. It was while seeking directions that I met Ted, a cheerful and stout African American boy who readily offered to take me to the administration block. His act of kindness was endearing and as we filled our forms together, I knew I had met a friend. We spent the afternoon in campus as he took me from place to place while explaining the various cultural and social features I would encounter in the campus. We shared numerous jokes among other pleasantries on the walks as he orientated me to the school and the society. He was excited and always spoke with a smile in his face. At one time, I questioned his motives since he had surrendered all his other previous engagement to assist me. He seemed to have read my mind and told me that he was idle and had gone through the entire process. Therefore, he could afford me the time. Furthermore, he understood the pain of trying to fit in a new society without the help of anyone. As such, he offered me his services, which I really needed. The companionship he offered was vital since it helped me overcome the challenges of settling in a new society. Ted became instrumental on my first few days in the campus. This marked the initiation of a friendship through the acquaintance. Ted spoke the local slang and could therefore gain entry into any social circle within the society. On our first evening at the campus, Ted offered to take me to a club within the campus. I did not like the idea but I joined him. Once out there the night progressed fast and before long, we were dancing and enjoying different drinks. Ted approached and told me to give him the money I had brought with me to the club. I did not trust the idea since we had just met. However, I risked the money and handed him about one thousand five hundred dollars, an amount that I had saved to buy learning materials. Soon thereafter, a group of marauding African American boys entered the club and surrounded me while shouting at the loudly thus masking any noise I would have made. Before long, the boys were gone. I inspected my pockets and in deed, they were turned inside out. I saw Ted glance at me and winked. Only then did I know that Ted had saved me the precious money. This marked the growth of our relationship since we became close. Ted would always come home every evening after his school day. Fortunately, we were in the same class and were about to complete our final exam in high school. We completed the exams and were always eager to join college. Ted wanted to study psychology and so was I. we therefore made a decision to join the same college. We cultivated the relationship systematically by maintaining close relationship. Key among the factors that enhanced the buildup of the relationship was the growth of trust among us. The fact that I gave him the money back in Africa endeared him to me. Additionally, the fact that he was honest enough to meet me at the airport and pay back the money was a portrayal of his honesty. I loved him for that. Furthermore, his other qualities such as his free spirited nature that seemed to overcome the social barriers set by the society were amazing and earned him the rust of my parents as well. The third stage in interpersonal relationship is the continuation stage. The stage consists of mutual commitment to the relationship. We have remained friends for the last three years, a feature that portrays our commitment to the relationship. The fact that we went to the same college and acquired a single hostel room is some of the factors that enhanced the growth of our relationship. We share numerous interests most of which promise to cement and sustain the relationship for a long time. The growth of the relationship relies on trust. Ted trust me with numerous of his assets. I trust him too. Life in college is interesting and full of fun. We go out together and share numerous other interests. Furthermore, our girlfriends are friends and such factors serves as cementing factors in the friendship. By the end of the year, we began thinking of starting a business. Such are basic factors that promise to sustain the growth of the relationship into the future. The fourth stage in interpersonal relationships is always the deterioration stage. Just as the name suggests, the deterioration stage refers to a decline in the intimacy in the friendship thus marking the beginning of a termination process of a friendship (Adler & Proctor, 2014). Deteriorating relationships sow signs of the declining intimacy and commitment by both parties. Loss of trust and betrayal are always some of the basic signs of the onset of the deteriorating stage. Luckily, my friendship with Ted has not shown any sign of this. As stated earlier, we still enjoy numerous things and our dreams remain similar in numerous cases. We plan to start a business together. Ted loves accounting and is always accountable with both his and our resources. I therefore trust that he can make a good manager with whom I would love to start and grow a business. I therefore promise to secure the necessary resources and invest with Ted in the unique business proposal. However, we will finish our college within the next two years. The duration thereafter may present numerous challenges to the friendship since we are not financial independent and have to move back to our parents’ homes. Furthermore, I will have to travel back to my home country. The geographical separation may destroy our friendship. The business should compel us to maintain contacts despite the geographical separation. We are planning to ensure that the business is both operational and profitable by the time we finish school, a vital feature that will sustain my interest in the country thus growing our friendship. The final stage in interpersonal relationships is termination. This refers to the end of a relationship as both parties withdraw their interest in continuing the relationship. The parties end all communications among other basic features that once sustained the relationship. Among the factors that end to the termination of a relationship may include death, geospatial separation and the breakup of a relationship. I do not foresee the end of our friendship. Ted is a good friend. He enhances my personality and he feels the same way about me. We therefore promise to grow the relationship with the business surviving are some of the basic factors to sustain the relationship into prosperity. Reference Adler, R. B., & Proctor, R. F. (2014). Looking out, looking in. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Read More