| Article Index |
|---|
| The Whole Popularity Issue |
| Read the Advice |
| All Pages |
Dear Popular?,
I think you're over-thinking this situation. You met some nice new friends, and are spending time with them. Your other friend has met some new people she has stuff in common with, and she's getting to know them too. How can you be friends with everyone? Just do it. Don't obsess about popularity, and don't feel like you have to explain your friendships to anyone. If you hang with the populars but still sometimes pal around with the so-called punks, people will just think you're confident enough in yourself to choose your own friends. If either group bugs you about having friends with other types of people, all you have to say is. "I like her, she's a nice person." But probably nobody will say anything, because most people get that most other people can't be narrowly defined by labels - we all have parts of our personalities that respond to different groups, and different individuals.
How can you avoid getting caught up in bad behaviors? That's similarly easy - just don't give into them. If you're hanging with your punky friend and her group, and they offer you a cigarette or a beer, just say, "No thanks, I'm saving my brain for college" or whatever. Make a joke of it, but let them know that's just not you.
In the end, high school happiness is all about being yourself, and not putting on an act - with anbody. If you stay true to who you are, and don't try to stuff yourself into a one-size-fits-all label, you are going to be just fine.
