In high school, I floated between a few “cliques.” I ran track, so was sort of a jock. I took honors classes, so was sort of a braniac and proudly sat with my artsy friends at lunch. I was definitely confident in my own skin and felt comfortable with who I hang with. I don’t ever recall feeling pressure to hang with 
one group versus another because it would jeopardize my place on the popularity ladder.
My idealistic self believes all young adults should feel comfortable being themselves and not feel like high school is a popularity contest.
Life is about growth and we are constantly learning about who we are and who we want to be. We want to please parents, significant others, family, friends, teachers, coworkers and the list goes on. But if we’re not happy with who we are as a person and if we don’t stay true to ourselves, we are going to be miserable.
This is the quote my idealistic self would tell any teen and I think everyone should try to live by:
Be yourself, not your idea of what you think somebody else’s idea of yourself should be.
~Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau
When I find myself straying from this mantra, I remind myself –
Photo Credit: {{PD-US}} – published in the US before 1923 and public domain in the US.
