It seems that the great desire among the young is to be popular. And once they achieve1, they want to keep it and 2 it. But the desire to be popular can3you into looking and acting like everyone else. You can lose yourself in a sea of 4 hairstyles and thinking styles.
I was forced to 5 popularity long before in a talk I had with my daughter. Margy had to 6 schools when my busy work schedule made it 7 for me to move houses. I suppose that, for a girl in her teens, 8 a new school is as easy as spending a season alone in the tropical jungles. However, as the school year 9 to an end, one student after another came to her. They said they would have liked to be friends sooner.
I told Margy that I would have been more concerned if she had been a(n) 10 social success in her new school. That, to me, would have been the 11 that she had betrayed her 12 self in order to become popular. Sometimes young people try to force friendships into blossom by opening 13 their innermost thoughts to people they have just met. Such friendships are the least likely to 14.
I know that it has become harder and harder for a young person to stand up against the popularity wave and to 15 his or her own way. This leads to a great 16 for the young person who wants to find his or her own 17. But the barrier is worth climbing over. The road is worth 18. You may want to listen to classical music instead of going to a party. You may want to collect rocks when everyone else is collecting records. Well, come on! Find yourself. Be yourself. Popularity will come with the people who 19 you for who you are. That's the only kind of popularity that really 20.
