Why being popular isn't everything it is cut out to be...

[Capt Jack]

to be happy amongst others, one must first learn to be happy with ones self.
to do otherwise assures failure.

[blueerica]

For me, high school ended up being okay, mostly because I moved... and of all places to my rival school.

In my first high school, Grant High, I spent a great deal of time trying to be someone I wasn't, while trying to keep some sense of myself. (Doesn't sound possible, well, it really wasn't.) Often times caught up in other people's drama, I dealt with it, and even ended up a part of a few fights.

Half-way through my Junior year, we moved to the opposite end of the town next door, our rivals, Newaygo High. While it took me a little while to get to know anyone, I eventually found friends whom I have kept ever since. (That's 12 years, for those who want a good fright!) I was completely myself; well, as much as any teenager can be. We didn't try to be grunge or goth, we didn't try to be popular. We hung with the popular kids, we hung with the geeks and nerds and were social with each. We got invited places because we were engaging people. (Not saying it to brag, but maybe I should a little.) We didn't have to follow their rules, because we had our own, and it was wonderful. To make friends that know you for who you are is a blessed thing - and I'm positive it's why we're still friends today, in spite of the fact that we're scattered across the country.

You'll find it - whatever it is you're looking for. It might not be in high school - maybe in college - maybe after college. You seem like an articulate young man and you'll attract those like yourself. Take the confidence you learned from the "cool crowd" and blend it with your intelligence and true nature. You'll go far.

[BarTopDancer]

You will find that once you go a bit further in college, and out into the real world no one will care if you were the Prom King or dated the head cheerleader.

I hated high school. And one day I still cearly remember after graduation was sitting in college listening to some girl go on and on about dating the QB, being a cheerleader, being ms. popular and seeing the other people go, so? what's your point? You're not in high school anymore, no one cares.

Be true to yourself, be the person who you are and those who like you will, and fvck those who don't.

[wendybeth]

I wouldn't know if we had a 'popular table' at school- I was too busy ditching to notice. I moved a lot while growing up, so I got used to always being the new kid and being hassled by the snotty popular girls. When I moved to my last high school, I just decided that I needed to make a statement early on, so I went up to the lead Heather of the school and slammed her into a locker. (She'd been picking on a timid classmate, and it pissed me off). Since my last school was a fairly notorious one, I brought with me an undeserved 'don't **** with her' reputation that I used to my advantage. I befriended like-minded kids, most of whom would be considered alternative these days, and never had another problem with the Others. By my last year we'd all grown to be friends (mostly) and the social cliques kind of blended and faded away.

Reading your post made me feel better about being older, DF. We tend to forget some of the not-so-fun aspects of youth. Hang in there- it gets tons better!