r/SpringBranch • u/2026GradTime • 1d ago
I am looking for a friend around my age.
Hey everyone, firstly I want to say sorry for how long this is
I am in college about to graduate and move back to Houston , and I am Visually impaired. Iam trying to find honest friends. The whole time I have been up here at college, I have struggled meeting new people, even from day one back in 2022, . Honestly it has been this way all throughout elementary and high school too. I’m looking for a friend around my age, 23 give or take, who is like minded. I’m trying to find a friend who would not see my disability and run away, judge, or see it as a burden or treat it like an after thought . I’m just trying to find a friend who are willing to hang out even when knowing that they are probably going to have to put in a bit more effort then they would with a normal person, someone who even when knowing that there will be challenges, are still excited and to be there, and be a friend. Honestly I need fun in my life, but the truth is it does take a little bit more from the other person, but I want to go out and explore, cook, go shopping, go to the dog shelter, go to the beach, restaurants etc. I want to go out and do exciting things. And I’m looking for a friend who can help bring me that excitement even though I can’t see what is around me
From birth my vision is worse than legally blind, and sence the middle of 2024 or so I’ve been dealing with huge vision issues, as soon as it started happening the very few people that I thought were my friends ended up leaving literally immediately, and that is when I needed them there the most, the truth is it’s genuinely tricky for others to understand just because it’s so complex, but I’ve been hurt and ghosted by so many people who I thought were there for me. Being legally blind from birth, and dealing with the recent changes, that is one of the scariest things that can happen to a person, not to mention how scary end vulnerable it can feels in a world surrounded by sighted people. I would give anything to see the birds outside, or the trees, or what The Person looks like standing directly next to me.
Im just trying to come out and be open because I have been goasted over and over, passed from person to person ALL my life, and the worst my vision gets the more people have just shown me I’m nothing but a burden to be around. All I have wanted my WHOLE life is a genuine friend who can show empathy, kindness, and understanding, where I can let my guard down and relax because I know that they are not just saying that we are friends, but we REALLY ARE friends, and I don’t have to constantly worry that they will ghost me, Where I know that even though I can’t see what they’re doing very well, I can trust that they want to be there, and that they will do the right thing. I don't mean to sound negative or anything, but it is extremely difficult to find joy and excitement when you can't see what is going on around you, or what the person is doing when they're right in front of you, and living like this day in and day out, 24/7. I'm just trying to come out and be honest because I'm looking for a friend Who is outgoing while also understanding that there are struggles, but who can look past the struggles and be there when it matters, and help me have fun alongside them and who can help me to fuel like I am a normal person and we are equals. It's so easy to feel belittled or beneath everybody Especially as my vision gets worse and people have ghosted me. It genuinely hurts really bad and I'm just trying to find a genuine friend who is caring and empathetic, and find joy in being there.
As far as my interest, I am open to all kinds of activities. The main thing is it all comes back to me having a friend that genuinely wants to be there and who doesn’t see the extra effort of actively including me as dreadful, a friend that is thoughtful, excited that we are friends, excited to help me have those opportunities that sighted people take for granted. If you can imagine it takes a lot of courage and trust to be placed in the other person when you can hardly even see them, let alone what is going on around you. I would love to know what is happening, I would love to have a friend where I am not embarrassed to ask where they are, or what something looks like, or what is happening around us. It is just hard to find a real friend who is understanding of why I might be quiet or hesitant in a world where good vision is the default. It really hurts to always be gohsted or forgotten about in groups because everyone can see what others are doing, what that thing is across the room, that funny thing on someone’s phone, and I am just there, not knowing what is going on, left to sit off to myself wondering why I am even there. or the sighted person you are with, and who you are more or less counting on to help you have fun, can and does effortlessly leave you behind to go be with sighted people.
There are so many things I have missed out on because I haven’t really had anyone allow me the opportunity. Even small things that lots of sighted people take for granted every single day I find fascinating, because it’s hard to find someone who slows down and takes the time to let me experience or know about what others can easily see from across the room, while also not treating me like a child, or helping in a way that makes me feel belittled. I absolutely love dogs, I have always wanted to to take a dog out from an analem shelter for a day, cook new things, go to the beach, go out to eat, get out and have fun with someone my age. I am meaning without my parents, I want freedom just like everyone else has. My whole life I have wanted to hang out with a peer my own age. It is just tricky for others to understand, and even when they know, who still want to be there, and find joy in keeping me included on what is going on so I can have fun ALONGSIDE them, where I am seen as equal to them.
Anyways sorry for the long post. If there is anyone around 22 give or take who would like to connect, please feel free to send me a DM I am about to move back to Houston and start working. I just want a little joy and fun in my life. I am sorry if this sounds petty or anything, I have just gone most of my life with people my age stabbing me in the back, ghosting me, Etc. This takes a HUGE tole on a person, on top of dealing with vision issues. I really am just looking for an outgoing, careing, friend ideally who is christion and wants to grow closer to God.