"I Wish that I Could Be Like the Cool Kids"

Adolescence is a time in a person's young life that, for lack of a better term, sucks. Puberty strikes, fights with parents ensue, friends come and go, and there's a constant struggle between being yourself or being someone you're not to fit in with the "cool kids." To an adolescent, being a part of the popular group can make them feel accepted, wanted, and valuable. However, is it worth sacrificing who you are to fit in?

Growing up, I was never one of the popular kids. Ever. First of all, I was too smart for that. I had my own little group of friends at school that I was perfectly content with. They planned sleepovers, movie dates, shopping sprees, etc. around my crazy gymnastics schedule, and there was no way I was going to sacrifice such caring people for the sake of being known as one of the popular kids at school. I also had very strong moral beliefs, and still do. I wouldn't have done half the things the "cool kids" did because it went against what I stood for. I never cracked under the peer pressure.

Today, just like when I was growing up, choosing between being yourself or doing what the cool kids are doing is a conflict that many adolescents are faced with. Some kids will do absolutely anything to be liked or accepted, whereas others couldn't care less, like me. The peer pressure to do something to fit in with the popular crowd exists for all children, but not all children react to it in the same way.

Teachers need to realize that this conflict of being yourself versus fitting in is one that a majority of adolescents will encounter. Teachers should take note of who's friends with who and observe any changes. For instance, a rejected or neglected child in school who suddenly is hanging out with the most popular kids during the school day may be engaging a dangerous activity, such as doing drugs. Teachers need to explain to their students that being different is a good thing, and that you shouldn't have to sacrifice who you are for someone to like you. In fact, if you're sacrificing who you are for someone to like you, that someone doesn't even like your "real" self because you aren't being your real self; you're being fake to fit in.