Mair Lucy (1972) sees kinship as the expression of social relationships in a biological idiom. It describes and establishes a network of enduring relationships between individuals and groups on the model of biological relationships between parents and children, between siblings and between marital partners.

Reflecting on my networks I find myself in a web of relationships that extends beyond my immediate family. These networks consist of friends, acquaintances, teachers or lectures or even casual encounters. They each play a role in shaping my interactions and exchanges.

At the core of my network, it includes my family. They are my family, and they play a very important in shaping who I am and how I interact with different people or even them. My sister is the nurturing one. She offers me with any kind of support whether it be emotional or financial, while my is more on the financial side. They not only provide me with emotional support but the offer me guidance and support. They provide me with affection and companionship which breeds a sense of belonging. They provide me with love and care, and we are connected by shared experiences and a sense of familiarity.

Followed after my family is friends and acquaintances. Our connection is based on shared interests, offering companionship and a sisterhood. Our friendship offers a deep level of emotional connection and support. There is an exchange of empathy, and a non-judgmental space to share experiences, thoughts and feelings. We all offer each other a sense of belonging and acceptance. We all go through challenging times at some point in life and having friends that are there for you to offer any kind of support is truly amazing. While acquaintances are surface level connections, they offer an exchange of information or ideas in social settings or potential people for forming deeper connections overtime.

In addition to my relationships, my daily network consists of lecturers and class/groupmates in which the relationships are forged through academics. Exchanges are transactional as our relationships revolve around the sharing of knowledge, resources, skills to that we can achieve a common goal. From the lecturers providing us with their knowledge to brainstorming ideas on how to tackle assignments with the classmates, these exchanges offer us a chance to enhance our knowledge and polish our skills for growth.

Reflecting on my networks, it reminds me of how my relationships with either my family members, friends and acquaintances, lecturers and classmates all play a significant role in my life. They are all involved in shaping who I am and also, how I view the world. They all provide me with a sense of belonging, offering support and care in many different ways. They remind me of what is important and what society needs.