Imagine this: you wake up one day and you are instantly living in a different world. A world where no one worries about fitting in. A world where people don't care about being accepted. A world where there are more successful people who step out of their comfort zone because they don't care what other people think.
Wow some dream huh? It is a typical day in Whyville. I log on like usual, check my mail, and like always, go to South Beach. And what do I see? I see people all around me who want that thriving feeling that they belong, without even trying. Just by looking at their avatar and the speech bubbles coming out of their mouth, I can tell they only have one thing on their mind: they want to fit in.
111 if I am hot! 123 if I am pretty! 123 if you want to talk to me! Want to know what I say? 111 if you are a completely desperate person who has nothing better to do besides try to fit in somewhere and want that "booming" feeling that someone actually thinks that they are pretty; on a WEBSITE! It may be a bit harsh, but seriously. If everyone of Whyville truthfully answered that question, there would be a whole lot of people saying 111. Who cares if you don't fit in on a website! No one knows who you REALLY are; you can be anyone you want on Whyville. That's what is so fun about it.
Many teens have already discovered that the only thing that matters in the real world is being accepted by your peers. As long as you have the right clothes, right style, right personality, and people like you, that's all that matters, right? But what is "right" anymore? If all people worry about is being accepted by others, then what is the normal thing to do? Sit back and be the laughing stock of the world? I think not. But you can still fit in with those around you and make something of your life.
Our teenage society is changing into a society where, if you don't fit in, you don't belong. Even on Whyville. Look around you. Almost everyone on Whyville looks the same besides the occasional few who have already discovered that they don't need to fit in to be happy.
No one lives in a perfect world. And the reality? No one probably ever will.
But you can still be accepted by others without having to go around like a social clone. Why not go up to the new kid at school and introduce yourself? Why not go out for the debate team if you have the brains?! Just because the popular blond girl at school says debate is nerdy doesn't mean that you shouldn't join. Because to a whole other group of kids, debate might be the coolest thing ever. Who knows?
Why does life have to revolve around being part of the crowd? There is this new girl at my school. And on her fourth day at my school, she already has practically the whole school against her.
Supposedly, this girl said insignificant stuff about the way our school "dresses". People have told me she said that girls who wear sweatpants are poor. And the rumors say she called girls who wear their hair in a ponytail nerds.
So our whole grade decides to wear sweatpants to school JUST to make this girl mad. But really, who cares what this girl thinks? Its ONE girl. If she wants to diss the whole school and make a complete fool of herself, I say, by all means let her! Why should we care what she thinks?
But the answer is simple. This situation was just another incident that is a part of our messed up, crazy society that we live in. Then another question comes to mind, do girls worry about being accepted more than guys do? Well, let's find out. I have interviewed two very well-known Whyville citizens on this topic. And I am sure most of you will find their answers, well . . . somewhat predictable. In a good way of course :)
First I had the pleasure to interview the one and the only Sweeetie2.
xoMegsxo1: Here's the first question: Do you ever worry about fitting in?
Sweeetie2: I used to worry about fitting in, but then someone asked me this question . . . if you could meet yourself would you want to be friends with you? LoL!! I know that sounds weird, but it made me think of what it meant to be a good friend, and how I thought about myself. After that, nope. Never thought about it again, I was just a good friend and didn't worry about fitting in. You will never get 100 percent approval rating, there will always be someone who is jealous, or depressed, or just plain ol' mean . . . and if that's their case, I wouldn't want to fit in with them or anyone who wants to fit in with them anyways!
xoMegsxo1: Great answer! If one day you woke up and suddenly did not fit in what so ever, what would you do? Would you freak out? Or just play it calm?
Sweeetie2: If one day I woke up and suddenly didn't fit in, I wouldn't freak. I would just think that every one is having a mass "bad day" and it had nothing to do with me. There is a saying, "You might not worry so much about what other people think of you when you discover how little they do." In other words, most people are focusing on their own lives, not what you're doing or not doing . . .
xoMegsxo1: Ok thank you for that great advice! Thanks for taking the time to do this interview.
Sweeetie2: Thank YOU for asking me :)
Next I had the pleasure to interview FozEBear.
xoMegsxo1: Here's the first question: Do you ever worry about fitting in (in the real world)?
FozEBear: No. LoL, ok I guess you want more than a yes or a no for it to be a real interview, huh?? Here goes: No, I don't worry about fitting in. I have strong faith in God which means that I have a set of standards to follow that have been time-tested over thousands of years . . . so when in doubt I consult my bible, and worry about how God would judge me, not my peers' opinions. I think God's judgments are more valuable than some dude from the back row in English class, who might judge people based on which designer name is on someone else's sweatshirt, or which sport they play, or girl they date, or car they drive . . .
xoMegsxo1: Wow that is a great answer, seriously! Ok on to the next question: What advice would you give to people who are still trying to learn how to be happy in their own body and stop worrying so much about how people judge them?
FozEBear: I would say to start looking inward and thinking outward. What I mean by that is to look at yourself, and find things that you really like, even if it is something like the color of your own eyes, or that you have strength in something like singing . . . then thank God for the gifts he has given you. Do it every day. Then remind yourself that it's the small things, one by one that adds up to be a great, bigger picture. Think of each good thing about yourself as one single pixel in a photo . . . and then you add another pixel and another pixel and then the whole picture becomes more in focus, and better. I would say work on your strengths, learn new things any time you can, and have fun. When you're having fun you don't pay attention to what the negative people have to say.
xoMegsxo1: That is great advice. Thank you so much for your time.
As you can see, Sweeetie2 and FozEBear are two out of the millions of teens in the world who have already discovered that they don't need to fit in to be happy. They have figured out that they don't need to be accepted by others to belong anywhere. They are just happy with themselves for who they are. So, why can't you be? Be thankful for the gifts that God has given you, and be a good friend to others. After that, nothing else should really matter.
Wanting to fit in is ok sometimes. Just remember you won't always fit in with everyone around you. Just think of Sweeetie2's question: If you could meet yourself would you want to be friends with yourself? Think about it. Would you really want to be friends with someone who only cares about being accepted by others, and nothing else?
This is xoMegsxo1, going to hang out with my one of my CLOSEST friends: Me, Myself and I xD
Authors Note: I'm not saying that all people only care about fitting in. And nor am I saying that if you look like everyone else on Whyville then this is all that you care about. I'm just saying that a large majority of our teen population worries too much about fitting in with the crowd, and this is just the way that it is at MY school. So if it's different at yours, don't be offended. Just know that what I wrote was not directed at any one person or school, this is just how I see it through my eyes. Thank you and feel free to comment in the BBS =)
