Have you ever thought you weren’t pretty, that you weren’t smart…or that you weren’t good enough for somebody else’s standards? I know I have. I used to think that if I didn’t have the best clothes...nobody would want to be my friend. I felt if I didn’t act the same way some of my friends did, that I wouldn’t be cool and I would be considered a "nerd."

But I thought of a cool new way to get past all of that. Here’s what you do:

• First think about what you like most about yourself. Is it a special talent? Or are you really creative? Pick out the thing you like best about yourself and think about it. My favorite thing about myself is writing, even though I may not be good at it, I still think its fun to do.
• Second, think about the hairstyles and clothes that YOU like to wear. Not your friends. Do you like to wear a t-shirt and shorts, or do you like to dress up in a cute skirt and a tanktop? I personally love to just hangout in a t-shirt and shorts and run barefoot…but that’s just me. And you know what? My friends don’t even dress at all like that. They love to get dressed up! But I think that’s comfortable and fun to wear so I wear it.
• Third, now think about your friends. I know you have heard this a million times from your parents or other people, but do your friends ever pressure you into acting like them, or dressing like them? If they do tell them that you want to be your own free person and don’t wanna be just like them. That you wanna stand out from the crowd and be yourself.

If you are nervous about talking to your friends…write them an e-mail or send them a letter. Even if they do ignore you and make rumors about you, just tell yourself: "Who cares? They aren’t true friends and if they don’t like me this way then that’s their problem." And tell them that…but not in a harmful way. After that, people will start noticing you more because you’re different and not like everyone else. More and more people will want to be your friend because they know you are just yourself and you’re great at doing just that.