We all have unrelated people in our lives who are more than just friends. The bonds we eventually build with them are almost always unbreakable and cherishable. We see them as brothers or sisters and their happiness as well as their sadness becomes our business also. When we notice them veering off track in school, we try to guide them. Like the Africa notion says, honest advice doesn’t destroy true friendship. This doesn’t seem to be the case with two friends, who are both Makerere University students.
Andrew Omuge on Tuesday morning, through his Twitter handle, ranted about how he is done advising friends after he tried to lure his [unnamed] friend off drugs and dodging lectures only to be asked if he’s the one who pays tuition.
“Am done with advising friends from today onwards, there’s this friend of mine he doesn’t attend lectures, he does drugs & doesn’t even do course works & so being a friend & a leader I tried telling him to get serious & he just told me “Are you the one who pays my tuition?” Omuge tweeted.
That was before a one, Isaac Muhenda chipped in, encouraging Omuge to continue pursuing his friend off drugs. “No don’t give up on advising him. Just change your approach. Dont talk to him like your condemning, critiquing or complaining about him.Begin by giving him some applauses & hearty approbation for the things he does right.And from there tell him about his mistakes but gently,” Muhenda suggested.
What would you do if you tried to advise your friend and you’re hit with the “you don’t pay my tuition” rhetoric?