[insoluble]

Never assume that those around you, even close friends or family members, care about your best interests or future. Chances are their actions are based on their own best interests, even when it involves you. There is a fair chance they are not even considering your future in any of their actions. This is not to say that you should not care about others, but that for many people, the only one looking out for you is yourself.

[hackuser]

Find people who do truly care about you; learn to truly see and care about others; those are the most important relationships.

[hoinz]

No they are actually covertly working AGAINST your best interests, especially if they are jealous, domineering or competitive in any way. Just look for signs like compliments, praise, heart-to-heart communications... if missing, then be very wary with the information you part and the time you spend with them until they show goodwill.

[usaphp]

I actually found it quite the opposite, the only people who really care about you and your future are your parents.

[insoluble]

Some parents try to use their children for personal gain, whether social or financial. My hypothesis is that a person who is selfish through his or her life will remain so even after having children. Habits don't break easily, especially if they are needed to satisfy insecurities. I honestly believe that many parents publicly "care" about their children only because it would make them look bad if they didn't. Hence, it's just a show. I had only one parent, and that parent couldn't have cared much less about my future. This is not to say that anyone else (other than myself) cared more. I didn't mean to suggest that non-family cared more than family. I also didn't mean to suggest that nobody has caring family and friends, since I'm sure some do.

[loco5niner]

Except Mom.