When entering high school, girls will do anything to fit in. Teenage girls go to extreme lengths to simply fit in and be one of the so-called “popular” girls. High school should not be about changing yourself to make someone like or accept you; high school needs to be about finding yourself. In the end, you will fit in because of who you are and the person you become. If people do not like you for you, then they are not really your friends.
I can admit I was that girl in high school. I was so caught up in being the “popular” girl that I lost myself and who I really was. I was a cheerleader, and I loved it at first. However, I began to hate it by my junior year. The sport that I had once loved became something I no longer enjoyed. I thought being a cheerleader would make me “popular,” but it did not. Instead it turned me further away from the person I really was. It was not until my senior year that I really started to find myself. I went to a different school for half the school day, and only went to my high school for cheer hour. At the other school, I really broke out of my shell and found the girl that had been hiding inside all those years. I met so many new friends at this school that when it was time to go to cheer hour at my high school, I hated how I felt there. That year I truly realized that popularity does not matter!
My reason for writing this letter is not to scare you when you get to high school, because it truly can be one of the best times of your life. I had some good times in high school that I will always cherish. I just want to get this message out to girls: Do not put your pride in popularity. In reality, no one will remember who prom queen or homecoming queen, who was the hottest guy, or who dated who, because none of that matters.
Girls, please take my advice and be yourself. Then everything will turn out great; it did for me. It just took me a little longer. The girl I once was is not who I am now as a freshman in college. I’ve joined a sorority where I have truly found the “sisters” I can go to for anything. Along with one of my best friends that has stuck by my side for so long, I have made so many new friends. I am finally the happiest I have been in a long time, and I’m this way because I stopped letting popularity control of my life.
