Spill the Tea on Rich Kids' Friendships

Personal Background

• Former rich kid until 2014.
• Financial decline due to the war in Eastern Ukraine.
• Experience of shifting from a wealthy lifestyle to financial hardship.
• Discussion on how it affected friendships.

Wealthy Lifestyle

• Attended private school surrounded by similarly wealthy peers.
• Lived in a bubble of assumed financial security.
• Celebrated birthdays in expensive ways; flamboyant parties and gifts.
• Common practice to split restaurant bills, regardless of individual consumption.

Impact of 2014 War

• Financial situation changed drastically for the speaker.
• Friends remained financially stable as they were not from Eastern Ukraine.
• Dilemma faced whether to disclose financial struggles to friends.
• Advice from father about potential changes in friendships if truth is revealed.

Coping with Financial Changes

• Chose to hide financial struggles and maintain appearances.
• Avoided going to expensive places and making excuses not to join friends.
• Realized importance of genuine friendships that go beyond financial status.

University Experience

• Moving to university offered a fresh start.
• Lived with international students, mostly wealthy.
• Continued to project an image of wealth initially.
• Gradual realization and acceptance of true identity beyond wealth.

Authentic Friendships

• Realization that friendships based on financial status were superficial.
• Found value in friendships where financial status was irrelevant.
• Importance of surrounding oneself with people from diverse backgrounds.

Reflections on Friendship

• Concerns about how discussions of wealth can affect friendships with those from different financial backgrounds.
• Frequent self-monitoring in conversations to avoid appearing spoiled.
• Easier friendships when peers have similar financial capabilities.

Making Diverse Friends

• Encouragement to make friends with genuine intentions.
• Suggestions for networking through events, LinkedIn, and social media.
• Importance of mentorship in building valuable relationships.

Social Media Journey

• Started social media to raise awareness about Ukraine.
• Shared personal stories and engaged with a supportive community.
• Aim to build a community discussing typically taboo topics.

Conclusion

• Expressed gratitude for the support received on social media.
• Invitation for questions and ongoing engagement with the audience.