I’m so excited to go back to school! But I’m also freaked about this girl beating me up when I get back. Not just physically, but mentally too. If you aren’t her friend, then she will pick on you, hit you, or do anything she can to make your life miserable. I was her friend this past year, but I’m still nervous to see what happens. Plus, my mom is going to be my teacher part-time and the reason this girl was mean to me was because she and her friends thought that I was a suck up to all of the teachers. They thought that I was a total goody goody and the only way they accepted me was when I acted like them. I started not to care about anything, and my grades dropped dramatically. I don’t know how to just be me and still get accepted. I know being popular isn’t important, but to me this is. I don’t want to live the same way I did again for four straight years. What can I do to make myself just like them and still be me? Ugh…I’m so confused!’
-Ringette #9‘
Ringette #9:
These girls sound like bad news. I totally understand the appeal of popularity, but remember that the “popular” kids usually aren’t very popular. Kids who are nice and friendly to everyone, never make fun of other people, and are willing to help others out are the real popular kids. They are the kids who are actually liked by all their classmates, who always have invites to parties, shopping trips, and sleepovers, and who are happy. So focus on being nice and friendly instead of being “just like” those mean girls.
As for the cruelty you expect from those girls when you get back to school, there’s unfortunately not much advice I can give you about it. Try to ignore them as much as you can, surround yourself with good friends, and don’t even drop to their level (catty comments, making fun of people, etc.). If they emotionally abuse you or physically hurt you, tell the principal, your guidance counselor, or your parents right away. Behavior like that shouldn’t be tolerated and most schools have rules in place about things like that.
And most importantly, stand up for yourself. Let them know you could care less how “popular” they are, and if being “cool” means hurting other people then you want out. Show them that you aren’t threatened or scared by them. Even though they might seem out of reach, in reality, they are just girls with the same problems and insecurities. The only thing that makes them special are the kids that follow them around. Be the first to stop the fad because these girls are so over!
-Andie 🙂
