University is a whirlwind of newfound freedom, bad decisions, and nights you'll laugh (or cringe) at for years. From last-minute nights out, questionable text messages, or waking up with zero memory of how you managed to get home, it's easy to fall victim to self pity and crippling hangxiety the morning after. Times like these are where a tough love friend comes in - the one person who won’t let you forget the night before but will still have your back when it matters most.
A good tough love friend doesn't tolerate your antics. They don't just nod and agree when you insist that phoning your ex-boyfriend at 2 am is ‘actually a great idea’. Instead, they will snatch your phone from you, shout at you, and remind you of your stupidity for months to come. They'll give you the brutal truth - and you need to hear it. While it stings in the moment, and you’ll hate them for ‘trying to hold you back’, deep down, you know they’re right.
If you’re lucky, your tough-love friend may evolve into a tough-love housemate. Every wild night out needs a responsible housemate who knows the perfect time to drag you home. Whether it's stopping you from buying your sixth round of jager bombs for the group when your bank balance is looking worse for wear or physically removing you from a conversation that's heading for embarrassment, their forceful interventions are acts of love. Sure, you might think they’re a buzzkill at the moment, but you'll thank them in the morning.
They don't just nod and agree when you insist that phoning your ex-boyfriend at 2 am is ‘actually a great idea’. Instead, they will snatch your phone from you, shout at you, and remind you of your stupidity for months to come.
And the best part? As harsh as they may seem when all you want to do is feel sorry for yourself, they’re also the first person to hype you up when you truly deserve it. They shout the loudest for you when you win, pick you up after a breakup, and stay up with you when you’re stressed over deadlines. While they may roll their eyes when you make a mistake, they’ll always be there to pick up the pieces.
So, if you have a tough love friend, go and hug them and thank them for dealing with your stupidity. And if you don't? Maybe it's time to find one, or even better, become one.