COUNSELLING CORNER: My Mother Sends Away My Friends.

Dear Counsellor,I am a 17-year-old girl in S4. I face difficulties with my mother because of the way she treats my friends. She complains that associating with friends will make me perform poorly in exams. Friends no longer visit me at home because my mother sends them away whenever they come. She strongly advises me that I must leave friends alone if I am to pass my exams. Can I really live as an island? I feel that I cannot do without friends. What should I do?B.N. Kampala.Dear B.N., It hurts to be separated from close friends. Your mother may not be doing so because she hates your friends. She would also like you to learn how to associate with others. But there are a number of reasons which might force your mother to limit your association with friends. Friends are not bad, yet not all friends are good. You are a candidate and your mother would like you to make the best use of your time. The type of friends you associate with determine how well you perform at school. At your age, the best friends are those with whom you can discuss academic work, friends with whom you can spend your time profitably.Success requires sacrifice. If it means sacrificing some friends for these few months, then it is wise to do so. Ends