When Stephen Chbosky's book “Perks of Being a Wallflower” was made into a film in 2012, the controversial coming-of-age tale resonated with many audience members. Chbosky created a fictitious band of characters with the focus on young Charlie, an isolated high school freshman who is trying to find friends and ends up finding them within a bunch of senior class misfits. At a party, Charlie is called a "wallflower" by his new friends, meaning he sees and listens without being noticed, and therefore sees what his peers would often times miss.

Many teenagers and young adults find that being a wallflower is the worst thing they can possibly be. Often comparing it to being a nobody or a loser, being a wallflower is one of the least desired statuses on a school campus. The title can be associated with having no friends or a lack of social life. While Charlie has both of these things, he redefines what it means to be a "wallflower." The book and film has given wallflowers everywhere a little bit of pride with their society-given title. However, many people still find the title negative and want nothing to do with it. I am here to tell you that being a wallflower is okay.

It is okay to be highly observant. Being an observant person does not mean you are antisocial, have no friends or lack social skills. Highly observant people are often people who have an attention to detail or like to simply watch life happen around them. They like to observe versus participating. Everyone’s comfort levels vary and it is okay if someone enjoys watching people dance at a party instead of doing the "Cupid Shuffle" routine themselves.

It is okay to not have the largest friends list imaginable. True, Charlie’s story takes place in the 1990s, so a friends list would have been a foreign concept, but the idea remains the same no matter the time period. Charlie had one good friend who passed away, then entered high school without having anyone. It is always best to know little about a lot of things versus a lot of a few things. So why not apply this idea to friendships?

It is okay to fly over other’s expectations of you. As a wallflower, you have often experienced the neglect of those around you -- purposely or not. Being a wallflower means that people do not see you and that they often dismiss you as being part of the backdrop. In doing so, they dismiss what you are capable of. You may be the next Picasso, but your talents are unheard of by your peers, because you stay in the background. They expect you to not be involved as a wallflower, but what shocks them the most is when their expectations are shattered. As a wallflower, you may be told that staying below those expectations is what you are meant to do, and it is okay to ignore them.

Urban Dictionary, the hub of accurate definitions, defines a wallflower as “often some of the most interesting people if one actually talks to them.” The misconceptions that wallflowers are nobodies, losers or dweebs is beginning to change -- a part of this change can be credited to Chbosky for penning Charlie’s story.

It is okay to be the one in the corner. It is okay to say hello to someone who has no idea who you are, but you are familiar with. It is okay to not be noticed because you notice everything else. Being a wallflower has some perks and Charlie knows all about it.