High school can be a tricky time.  Not only is the work totally different from middle school or junior high, but the social scene is brand new as well.  It seems that there are a million and a half movies that deal with high school dilemmas, like fitting in and finding your real friends.  And in every movie, there is at least one of the following: the dreamy jock, the beautiful but mean girl, and the nerd with a heart of gold.  High school stereotypes seem to be everywhere.  But just because they’re in the movies doesn’t mean that they’re true.  A person on the math team can also be a star soccer player.  The president of the debate club can also play guitar in an awesome band.  The lead soloist in the concert choir can also be the head cheerleader.

Your high school may have the “popular group” – the girls and guys who sit at the best table at lunch, are beautiful but shallow, wear the coolest and most fashionable clothes, and always have a party or social gathering to attend.  Maybe you’ve seen kids who are considered to be “computer geeks” – all they ever talk is computers or Dungeons and Dragons, they have never had a conversation with a member of the opposite sex unless it was to debate the merits of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the idea of going to a party that doesn’t involve some sort of calculations is unfathomable, and of course, they wear glasses that are at least half and inch thick. 

But what happens if you like to wear the hottest clothes and you like to solve math problems?  Where can you possibly fit in if you’re the star quarterback and you dream of someday becoming a world class ballet dancer? This is why stereotypes are so horrible.  To say a person can only be a drama queen or a math wiz or a trend-setter is both limiting and incorrect.  Don’t sell yourself or others short by buying into traditional high school stereotypes. Don’t let fake ideals of what a high schooler should be determine who you are. Don’t be afraid to be yourself because although nobody’s perfect, we’re all role models.