Picture a scene from your everyday life at school:

You're walking down the hall with your friends on your way to your first class of the day. Up ahead you spot that weird girl at your school who ALWAYS wears black. She's in fine form today – black flip-flops, a long black skirt, a black sweatshirt, and a black backpack. Her hair is newly dyed red, and it looks disastrous. You nudge your friends and nod in the girl's direction. What a freak! You and your friends laugh as you go by – you're SO glad you have cool, normal friends!!

Does this sort of thing happen at YOUR school? Maybe teens at your school give the cold shoulder to a geeky boy who always wears the wrong clothes, or an overweight kid, or maybe even a student who is a different religion or race from the majority. It doesn't really matter who you're leaving out, it's never OK! Too many teens go through school feeling left out, unaccepted, or rejected by everyone else. And that leads to increased peer pressure for teens who are trying to fit in, and depression in those who don't get accepted.

Look around your classroom, your lunchroom, your sports team, and among your friends and your friends' friends. Do you really accept everyone for who they are? Or are there some people that you would never want to even make eye contact with? It's hard to admit it, but most of us aren't as friendly and accepting as we'd like to think we are. The good news is that it's never too late to change!