Coolness. Something everyone is after. Something everyone aspires to have and be recognized as having.
It's high school. The years that are said to define your life. So, people aspire to be the most popular people they can be. They want to have all the friends. They want to have everyone on their side, even if that means sacrificing who they are. But who will be by your side as soon as you let your guard down? Who is going to let you call them at 3 in the morning? Who is going to give you a shoulder to cry on? Who is going to let you act less-than-cool when you're with them? Because I can guarantee it won't be the people who refer to you as popular...
When you are popular, you don't really have any friends. Sure, you have people surrounding you and what-not. You don't have friends. Because friends are those few people who see you, the real you, and love you for every little bit of it. By having "followers," you have no "friends." Yet, everyone still desires to be put in that position. I don't know a single guy who would turn down prom king or a girl who'd turn down prom queen. And sure, it's a great honor to have the title. But, there's a reason the crown is made out of plastic: it's a symbol of who you've been in high school.
I know, I sound like a hypocrite. I own some of these crowns. I've been voted "queen" of things. But, I've done it the right way. I've never compromised who I am for what others what me to be. If I am going to have friends, I don't want them to only be followers.
So, I'm leaving high school knowing that whatever friends I claimed were truly friends. There are people I won't talk to who are self-proclaimed "little miss popular"s. If that means I don't gain popularity, so be it. It's high school, people. These things aren't important. They shouldn't be important. Because if all you're after is followers, I doubt you'll leave high school with anything other than a diploma.
