Soong Mei Wen

Her name is Soong Mei Wen. I first met her in lower six. There was really nothing special or outstanding about her. She seemed quite plain and to be frankly honest, I never really noticed her. But when I finally did take notice, it was clear that she was an outstanding person.

I the days of yore, I was not a particularly “liked” person. It’s only in the last ten years or so that I discovered that I was a self centered, manipulating person that was only nice to another person when there was something I could get from them. Of course, I still am very much this person. However, having realized this, I consciously correct myself and try very hard to think of others before me and be nice to veryone unconditionally. But this is a whole other story that I may write about another time.

To be frank, I never truly had a real friend (as if its such a big surprise) until Mei Wen came along. She was the first person who truly understood me and accepted me for who I really am. She has stood beside me even when it was not the “cool” thing to do. She was and still is the person I can simply pour out my heart’s contents without fear of being judged.

Micheal Jackson’s Ben. This is one of my all time favourite songs. I think this song embodied true friendship perfectly. The words go something like this…

Ben, the two of us need look no more

We both found what we were looking for

With a friend to call my own

I’ll never be alone

And you my friend will see

You’ve got a friend in me

(you’ve got a friend in me)

Ben, you’re always running here and there

(here and there)

You feel you’re not wanted anywhere

(anywhere)

If you ever look behind

And don’t like what you find

There’s something you should know

You’ve got a place to go

(you’ve got a place to go)

I used to say, I and me

Now it’s us, now it’s we

(I used to say, I and me)

(now it’s us, now it’s we)

Ben, most people would turn you away

I don’t listen to a word they say

They don’t see you as I do

I wish they would try to

I’m sure they’d think again

If they had a friend like ben

(a friend)

Like ben

(like ben)

Like ben

You know, I’ve always felt that Ben would be the song Mei Wen would dedicate to me. She’d change the words to Bren, most people would turn you away. I don’t listen to a word they say. They don’t see you as I do, I wish they would try to. I’m sure they’d think again if they had a friend like Bren. Yes, she was the one who stood by me when others would not. But seriously, I have been so lucky and blessed to have a friend like Mei Wen. In life, very few people get such friends. I’m so happy that I found mine! And you know what, I wish you will find yours too!