Friends are going away when you need them. Also on an associated issue, your timidity and lack of confidence will affect everything, from career advancement to personal life (every aspect of it). So what to do? 1. engage with people, know their needs, interests, watch their motives; 2. look at them as peers, know you are as good as they are don't be subordinate and rephrase everything they said; 3. know people will never be relied upon; they will leave when you are not needed or in trouble;