My Problem With Popular

     There's nothing inherently wrong with being popular, unlike how media makes them out to be. Honestly. Having a big group of friends and being known is great. Popular people are often really successful both academically and socially. That's hard to do, and they deserve credit for their hard work. So I don't understand why so many people are so put off by being called popular. "Oh yeah I have a lot of friends and I know everyone, but it doesn't mean that I'm popular". It does! I know everyone in my grade but we are not all friends. If you are unpopular, you would know it. I knew it. My friends knew it. The popular kids knew it. I don't have any problems with popular people in general. It's when they start being harmful to others that I have a problem with them. 

    While in class, I listened to people talk about those who were seen as unpopular. One person called someone a waste of space for not talking. Another person said they didn't want to talk to someone who struggles with conversation and stuttered. It was said so easily that I can only imagine that these views are held by a lot of people towards the more unpopular crowd. I'll be honest, I was really shocked. People are not obligated to talk to you. That does not mean they're worthless. People are anxious. They may stutter in conversation. They may also be awkward in conversation because they're scared of you due to exactly the way you're speaking! School is hard for a lot of people. We have to be mindful of others and understand that just because they are different from us, does not mean they do not deserve compassion and respect. 

    I'm thinking back on the popular kids in my high school. Good, smart kids. I've known them since kindergarten. We may not be friends, but we are kind to one another. Mostly. I know they are not all nice to me behind my back. Some of them (they were boys, I realized) called me weird. They told people to avoid me for no reason. They called my friend group "the gays" in an insulting manner. They would steal our lunch table. I have been shut in a locker, as cliché as that is. Whatever, that's life. But I had a real issue with the way they treated some of the more openly (for lack of better word) neurodivergent people. One kid in my grade had a special interest of everything war and guns. He was extremely intelligent, but he lacked some social cues. People made fun of him in really subtle ways. They wrote fake war stories with him, got him to act out really weird things, mockingly cheered for him in gym. He seemed really happy.  I don't think he realized they were laughing at him. 

    I don't mean to enforce the mean popular people stereotype. Unpopular people can act just like that as well. I think of plenty of popular people in my school with fondness and admiration. Most of the girls were always so sweet. They would compliment me on my outfits and have casual conversations. They were amazing athletically and aesthetically. From what I've heard about other schools, I believe I got really lucky with the people in my grade. I suppose it's harder to be so cruel to someone you've grown up with.

I just wish people were more considerate of their actions. Popular people don't want to admit they're popular because of the stereotypes attached. Again, there is nothing inherently wrong with being a popular person. Chances are, they're popular for a reason. People don't flock to you if you have no redeeming qualities. Please, just be kind to those who are not similar to you. You don't have to coddle them, just with basic respect.