Way back during my middle school prime days, I was always called one of the weird kids. I was one of those kids who got weird looks in the hallways for what I was wearing. Other groups of kids would peek and laugh as I stood outside after lunch with my circle of weird friends. My friends would look at me totally appalled and confused when I said “rawr” to them, because back when I was 12, saying rawr to someone meant you were saying "I love you" to them, but in dinosaur language.

The trend followed me all through high school too. Though I did stop yelling “rawr” at people (because let’s face it, that is pretty outlandish), I tried not to talk about what music I enjoyed, or what things just made me happy. I found that when I told people the entire truth about what things I did like, I got the same weird looks and comments that I did back when I was younger. It’s something I’ve never really understood, but rather something I just learned to accept.

Later on, I learned that it isn’t something you just accept.

Growing up is part of life (obviously). While growing up you begin to find yourself.

You discover what you like, or dislike, your passions, pet peeves, dreams, and aspirations. You’ll change your mind, and change it again and again, but that’s all part of it. But the thing is, you shouldn’t be ashamed of the things you like or dislike. You shouldn’t hide those things because you’re afraid of what people will think of you. If they judge you for the things you love, then they probably aren’t good candidates for friendship.

And really, why would anyone ever alter the things they like for someone else? What’s the point? Why should you change what you like, just because it’s not what someone else likes? If someone doesn’t like/accept everything about you, then do they really deserve your friendship? No, they do not.

We all need to learn to be ourselves a little more. I’ve grown up in a society (and yes, I hate using the word society) where we’re told to be ourselves, but it doesn’t really mean you should be yourself. It means you should be yourself the way everyone else is telling you to. Does that really make sense? No, it doesn’t.

Instead of being yourself the way everyone else tells you to, be yourself in the way that you want to.

So here’s to the labeled “weird” kids: Keep on being you.

Keep on listening to your music.

Keep playing the games you love to play.

Keep watching the shows you love to watch.

Keep wearing the things you love to wear.

Don’t ever compromise yourself because someone thinks you're weird.

If you’re happy with who you are, then no one else’s opinion should matter! So stay true to yourself, the things you love, and be confident while doing it.

Here’s to the labeled “weird” kids: I am one of you, and I am very OK with that.