Too many people want others to be their friends, but they don't give friendship back. That is why some friendships don't last（持续）very long. To have a friend, you must learn to treat your friend the way you want your friend to treat(对待) you. Learning to be a good friend means learning three rules: be honest; be generous; be understanding.
Honesty helps start a good friendship. Friends must be able to trust（信任）each other. If you don't tell the truth, people usually find out. If a friend finds out that you are not honest, you may lose your friend's trust. Good friends should always speak and act honestly.
Generosity means sharing and sharing makes a friendship grow. You don't have to give your lunch money, your clothes, or your hobbies. Naturally you will want to share your ideas and feelings. They tell your friend what is important to you. By sharing them, you help your friend know you better.
Sooner or later everyone needs understanding and help with a problem. Something may go wrong at school. Talking about the problem can make it easier to solve. Turning to a friend can be a first step in solving the problem. So to be a friend you must listen and understand. You must try to put yourself in your friend's place so you can understand the problem better.
No two friendships are ever exactly alike. But all true friendships have three things in common. If you plan to keep your friendships, you must practice honesty, generosity and understanding.
