Mr. Ed
Be what you is not what you what you ain’t
- Location
- Central NY
I wanted popularity until realizing it was not popularity I was seeking; it was finding comfort in who I was. Popularity was merely affirmation. I was ok.
I wanted popularity
- Thread starter Mr. Ed
- Start date
officerripley
Well-known Member
- Location
- Porlock, Calif
Unfortunately, popularity is pretty much a requirement for high school; otherwise you look back on that time in your life as being miserable (trust me, I speak from experience).
OneEyedDiva
SF VIP
- Location
- New Jersey
I was happy that I wasn't unpopular. I wasn't the star of the show but my classmates liked me and I had my three BFFs, my first love who was my steady throughout my junior and senior years (his sister became one my BFFs). That being said, I totally get what @Gary O' wrote about Anonymity. I'm so sorry your high school experience was miserable Officer! {{HUGS}}
Alligatorob
SF VIP
Absolutely! Congrats @Mr. Ed !
I know that can be true for some, particularly those bullied or otherwise mistreated. However I was never very popular, but not mistreated either. Worked out fine for me. I was never drawn to the more popular kids.
oldaunt
professional hermit
When you are comfortable with yourself in your own skin, popularity is not needed.
feywon
Well-known Member
- Location
- Rural North Central NM
For me Anonymity not possible in School. i refused to be pushed in stereotypes that weren't who i was/am. Back then, where i was going to school it was unheard of (and frowned upon) by both fellow students and most (thankfully not all) teachers for a 'good student' (High grades, no drugs or acting out issues) to question much less challenge what teachers were saying---and i just couldn't let some things slide. But i expected the consequences and didn't complain about them--just as my Dad had taught me to do.
feywon
Well-known Member
- Location
- Rural North Central NM
Popularity not a priority with me. i like interacting with others honestly, tho i am more likely to hold my tongue or temper my words if i feel the person i'm talking to is particularly emotionally vulnerable.
When it comes to friendships i've always preferred quality (and variety--you learn more from diverse interactions as opposed to living in an echo chamber) over quantity.
When it comes to friendships i've always preferred quality (and variety--you learn more from diverse interactions as opposed to living in an echo chamber) over quantity.
officerripley
Well-known Member
- Location
- Porlock, Calif
Popularity was a must if you wanted to interact with anybody at all at my schools. You'd think that we unpopular kids would've banded together and therefore interacted with each other but all of us unpopular kids seemed to be sunk in our own misery. (Maybe that's because most of the teachers were no help: they made "pets" of the most popular kids and either ignored or ridiculed the unpopular kids. I've heard that's common in a "new money" area.)
Remy
Well-known Member
- Location
- California, USA
I know. I know.
feywon
Well-known Member
- Location
- Rural North Central NM
In 'middle school' (7th & 8th grades) in Newark, NJ in late 1950s, there were a group of us 'unpopular' girls that banded together. Grace was from a Greek family, another Egyptian (Hattie was an Americanization of her real first name), Eleanor Jaworsky--who aspired to being the first female orchestra conductor, Michela who came from 'displaced persons' family that fled Europe during the war and was a ballet dancer. (Actually did a guest spot with a traveling Ballet Company one year--they would audition local girls).
Then there was me-- an Irish/Welsh/Hungarian descent girl who tho i'd lost most of southern accent still said "Y'all" and notoriously had friendly relationship with a female Black gang member. (Met her in 5th grade in another town and something i did to buck the system impressed her--so she had my back in middle school.) All in our click were 'good' students, only Eleanor (who had the most peaceful and stable home life of us all) were 'outspoken'.
My HS had various cliques but i didn't really find my niche in any of them. In 11th grade i became friends with a Senior who was a photographer and won his classes yearbook an award for it's photography. Tom Dan. He also painted and sculpted. That year i was also befriended by a popular (tho target of jealousy--dated a football star-- and rumors) girl from the Jewish clique. She was very exotic looking. We were BFFs till about 25 or so then lost touch till she found me on FB. We both caught a lot of flak for dating inter-racially. Someone actually tried to push me down the stairs once, but they were so crowed i couldn't fall. (and no, it wasn't accident--they said something nasty as they pushed my back).