<p>Before, I didn't think too much of trying to be popular. Many people do say that you should be who you are instead of trying to be someone else. I realized in high school, however, that popularity is actually very important.</p>
<p>Because I was friends with a variety of groups before high school, I only noticed this to a limited degree and didn't really take note of it much. But when I came to high school, I found out that you are much more respected by becoming one of the "cool" ones. Thus, although popularity is technically not leadership, it is a crucial feature to have in order to demonstrate leadership.</p>
<p>Moreover, if you become one of the un-cool ones, it is very hard to be part of the cool circle, while if you are popular, you can easily be friends with the "lower tier." So making friends with the popular guys when you first see them are indeed important.</p>
<p>Luckily, I believe popularity can be earned. Most people don't think about it, so they just let it happen naturally, but I believe it is something people should consider and work for.</p>
<p>I don’t really think a person should work for “popularity”. You always see those wannabe’s who suck up and try too hard. Then you can only become stereotypically “popular”. Which means that you dress, act, and talk the same as everyone else and people actually love to hate you.</p>
<p>But as long as you’re friendly and sociable, people will like you. The whole “cool” circle thing is nonsense. You can be popular without being part of the “cool” cult. Those people get boring if you hang out with them 24/7, but it’s still good to maintain connections and have friends in every group.</p>
<p>This reminds me how pathetic my high school life is.
I’m actually one of those unpopular guys who aren’t good enough to fit in the “cool” circle.
The kids at my school went on a senior trip yesterday and today.
I did not go.
When they had pictures of the events posted up on facebook, I imagined myself if I really went.
People on the bus would’ve just rashed on me (everyone got his/her face painted).
They were at a dancing bar where opposite genders dress up.
I knew if I was there, no girl would supply me clothes to help me look funny dress up neither would any guy would give a damn about me.
It’s so sad being part of me right now.
Two of my best friends are actually the coolest guys in the school, even on the senior trip.</p>
<p>There was over 6000 people in my high school. Popularity did not exist. Ironically, the two people that came closest to “popular” were theater nerds, not preppy jocks or cheerleaders. </p>
<p>Popularity is overrated. You learn that as you go on through life.</p>
<p>Just learn to get along with almost everyone and you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>The notion that you should only make friends with people that you will need later for connections is quite Machiavellian. You should be friends with the people you like and the people who’s company you enjoy. Provided that you are somewhat sociable you will find these people who you like in whatever situation you are in.</p>
<p>Popularity is important as long as you know which type of popularity you’re going for. Student leadership and taking part in lots of ECs does require you to be more socially inclined…thus popular. But who said being popular is a bad thing?</p>
<p>I think you need to look beyond high school, however. I know that it is easy to think that high school is the end-all be-all of life, but popularity in high school matters almost nothing once you’re gone and off to college/life.</p>
<p>^ Yeah, but at the same time, being socially outgoing and friendly will get you friends, which makes you popular, so you’ll be communicating a great deal with a wide variety of people. These relationship building skills are very important and being a social outcast is by no means beneficial.</p>
<p>How is that the sad side of life? If you don’t know how to be sociable, or how to work with a team, or how to even behave during an interview, you won’t get too far in life.</p>
<p>Not to confuse sociable types with the party circle, who are usually very sociable but not always prioritized.</p>
<p>I don’t know about where you guys to to school, but at my school really the only “leadership” position popularity will get you is student gov’t, and even that’s not really leadership. All it means is you go to a different homeroom and have meetings on Thursday mornings before school (meetings are basically bagels and OJ from the freshies. Nothing gets done).</p>
<p>Yes as some people said popularity is what you define it as. If you are a guy and you think being popular is playing varsity sports and having all the chicks around you all the time is popular, then there you go. But if you think being popular is being involved in clubs and being at the top of your class and certainly having people who look up to you then there you go that is your definition of popularity. Just be yourself in high school and you’ll enjoy it. If you try to act like someone else, you’re just going to crash and burn.</p>