Youngprer: hang in there! I remember being your age quite well. I agree with the other people that having just one really good friend is all that one needs. Then again, I went to a small, alternative high school where their were very few people who were just plain irritating and cliques didn't really exist. Their were still groups of people that were kind-of clique-ish but their behaviour was usually very tolerant. As individuals people are far more likely to be kind, intelligent, and sensible. But in groups their seems to be a pull to the churlish behaviours. In retrospect almost nobody I've talked to really enjoyed being in intolerant cliques. Many people, especially in high school, think that the only way to achieve self-satisfaction is to be the popular one. But their, by necessity, can only be few of those. And still, many people are captives to this mass illusion. I support anyone who has the courage to be an individual-- not the "individual" which a lot of people give lip-service to, but the true individuals who aren't afraid to speak out, and pursue their own interests.
Best of luck,
K.Olafsson
