Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek

Popularity is more than looks. It’s not clothes, hair, or even possessions. When we let go of these labels, we see how flimsy and relative they actually are. Real popularity is kindness and acceptance. It is about who you are, and how you treat others.

No popularity exists when tragedy strikes. All that's left are human hearts and love and ache. We all love each other, deep down, and when we see another soul in pain we can't help but hurt too.

This is the time to remember that I’m the protagonist in my own story, facing every challenge with grace and wit.

Betty's lesson is much deeper than I ever expected:I wanted popularity; I wanted other people to like me. But it turns out most people are wanting to be discovered too.

Boys have outdoor plumbing. Girls have indoor plumbing. If we tried to pee standing up, it would just dribble down our legs.

Make your yearbook picture memorable because, as my science teacher says, “Your grandkids have to laugh at something.

Our librarian, Ms. Corbeil, is one of a kind. She welcomes all Social Outcasts and talks to us like we’re adults and worthy of her attention, something many of us don’t get very often.