Wow, you are a very busy person. Hmmm, friends, well, when you are younger in the type of atmosphere you are in now, friends require a lot of maintenance. And when you discribe your room mate? Well she doesn't work and go to school so it sounds like what she DOES do is pay attention to these so called friends. And what your room mate is REALLY doing is spending probably MOST of her time messaging the egos of others and that in turn gives her an activity as well as feed her own ego.
However this can be a nowhere path because this roomate cannot live off of friends and that is not going to give her a career either. And ColourBars, believe me, if this room mate is ever in a position where she CANT message the egos of others, and really NEEDS these friends? Well, you already KNOW what happens then right?
Leed is right, THESE ARE NOT "REAL" FRIENDS.

You know who your best friend is right now? YOU. And do you know why? Because YOU have been taking time out for YOU and you are also educating YOU and you are learning how to be responsible for YOU. And the roomate? She is dependant on everyone else, her father and her friends for HER well being, very dangerous road. Your roomate is in for a big awakening down the road. And YOU are actually learning HOW to SURVIVE all by yourself and that is very healthy.

And as far as the place you are now and how it seems like everyone is competing with each other? It is pretty much the age and maturity level and big need for EGO MESSAGING. But, I am sure that NOT ALL the students are like that AND always remember, NOT QUANTITY BUT "QUALITY". Because truth be told? Most people are lucky to have just a few people in their lives that they can say are GOOD QUALITY FRIENDS, just as Leed talks about her long distance friend that she has known for a very long time. And I am sure if you ask her, she would not trade this one good friend for a group of friends that she has to work hard to message their egos and they will never really care or know her like this one good friend. "QUALITY", not quantity.

But first you have to be a good friend to yourself and find your way for a while and sometimes, yes that can be a bit lonely at times. But as you find your way more and more the QUAILTY people that you can TRUELY CALL FRIENDS WILL COME. And you wont be boring because you will know you more, you will be educated and truely independant.

Now I am not saying that friends are not important, but when you work on you at this time in your life, you don't have time to do the ego messaging thing. You have to just give it time and I think you are doing a good job working on you, I am impressed at how hard you work at going to school and working two jobs, that is like money in the bank for you or a worth while investment. But you have to be patient and give yourself a chance to maybe see if there is someone else around like you that you may not have to message so much and that person will understand because that person is working hard too. "QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY"

(((((Hugs)))))
Open Eyes