Oh man, I wish you went to my school so I could be friends with you! You sound awesome. I think you’d also get along with my good friend, Max Crumbly. It’s SO hard being different, especially at our age. And really, it’s not about being different. It’s about being honest about who you are. Because EVERYONE is different. But, some people feel insecure about who they are, so they try to blend in with the crowd by acting like everyone else. That has to feel awful too, right?
It sounds like you know who you are. You even LIKE who you are, which is AWESOME. But I’m sure it starts to wear you down, feeling like no one else appreciates who you are.
It stood out to me when you said this: My grades are suffering and I don’t do my best at stuff anymore. It’s great that you realize it. SO many people do this. I think some people even do it without realizing. And as hard as it is, I want to encourage you NOT to do it. Don’t stop being yourself. Definitely don’t stop doing your best in school. It’s hard right now. And it might be hard for a while. But a few years from now, you’ll be glad you hung in there!
It’s important to know you don’t just have to suffer through. I guarantee there are kids who find you funny, and who are into the same things you are. They might just not be confident enough to ignore peer pressure. So, how do you find them?
Well, what are you into? I encourage you to join in activities you enjoy, especially ones that might attract other kids who are a little bit quirky. Theater, for one! And if you don’t want to act, you could volunteer to paint sets, hang lights, or do all sorts of things. You seem like someone who would fit in with the theater kids.
