Peer Recommendation for a Friend
The first time I saw him, I sensed an impression of competition and rivalry. We had met on the first day of school at Mongol Aspiration, both as up and coming freshmen at a relatively young and ambitious institution. At a glance, he had everything that I lacked — poise, style, vigor, a dash of boldness — though what really put him on my radar was our shared proficiency of the English language, something that was not at all common among my relationships.
We were naïve back then and had yet to learn the value of cooperation over competition, clashing frequently in terms of academics through grades and achievements, trying to win the teachers’ favors. To my surprise and irritation, I found that he had the self-discipline of a monk on pilgrimage and the stubborn grit to back it up. It always struck me, however, to see him pick up the most challenging tasks and work through them with an organized and methodic approach, with no hesitation to start over as many times as it takes to attain the best possible result. Occasionally I would best him on a test, but looking back, his accomplishments were always hard-earned and well deserved.
Once our class made it through our first semester together the tension and timidity in everyone had been dispelled. Friendships blossomed, and for once on my own initiative, I invited him out for lunch. We sat down in a small bistro near the school and spoke for the first time about things outside of schoolwork, and the image of him that I had pictured morphed and shifted. It took time for us to open up to each other as he was a cautious and tactful person. Slowly I learned more and more about him, and to sum it all up on a page proves extremely difficult. As though the need to cope with adverse reality since childhood had built in him a resistance of sorts, he has the ability to withstand harsh periods of life, yet that doesn’t mean he’s unaffected by them. Close friends will find him cheerful, witty and humorous, free from any superficiality; only a select few see his melancholic side — sober sometimes to a fault — should he decide to show them.
As a former classmate, but more importantly as a dear friend who holds him in high regards, I say with certainty that he has the potential to triumph in any matter he undertakes. It would be very foolish of him to ever doubt his ability to succeed, given his patience, perseverance and ambition. It is important for him to exercise his wonderful willpower, to practice moderation and temperance and surround himself with those who genuinely loves and supports him, for I know that once he has his mind set, his determination will lead him to the greatest of heights.
