My school is really cliquey, like most high schools, and so it's not that easy to make friends. I have friends, great ones, but the problem is, I have NOTHING in common with them. I'm just there. I like shopping, they hate shopping. I like pop, they like rock/heavy metal (they're guys). I told some of my friends how I feel and my guy friend said I could just be the oddball of the group. My other friend, who's not so nice, said "Then why do you hang out with us?"

Now I'm depressed, which isn't so unusual. I don't want to leave my friends no matter how weird people call us/me. They're nice and funny, we just have nothing in common. Should I leave them for a new patch of friends, or what? I'm more preppy than "punky" like they are.

Cliques stink, but sometimes ya gotta deal with 'em. Don't let it bring you down though. You're a great gal no matter what all these cliquey peeps gotta say. And the fact that you realize that the whole clique thing is supersilly just shows how mature you are!

If you like your friends definitely stay with them. You must have SOMETHING in common with them to make you guys friends in the first place. Think about what attracted you to these buds. Do they make you laugh with their hilarious jokes? Are they totally easy to talk to when you've got a prob? Are they smart and do you guys have great convos?

If your friends make you happy then stick with them no matter how different you guys are. A little variety is great to spice things up. Would you really wanna hang out with a group where everyone was the same? No way! You need different friends—they give you different perspectives and views on stuff that people exactly like you wouldn't see.

If you want, you can try to reach out and make new friends who are more like you. Meet new buds with similar interests while keeping up with your old group. How to make some new pals? Talk to people in your classes who seem to like the same stuff you do—like shopping and pop rock. This way you'll be friends with lotsa different groups! It's always awesome to have a variety of friends.

So girl, don't stress. Just keep being yourself and you're gonna do great!

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9/23/2009 7:00:00 AM