Popular people are supposedly the nicest, smartest, funniest, and most fabulous in the school. All of which would be things to aspire to, if that's what popularity was really about. But it's not, at least not in high school. It means that or one reason or another — you're gorgeous, rich, have cute clothes, or whatever — other people who could be your clones will deign to save you a seat in the cafeteria. Now, that doesn't mean you can't be popular and be an excellent person. But it does mean that not every excellent person will be part of the oh-so-exclusive clique. This guy could be overlooked and underrated. So what I'm saying is: Go for it! If you like someone who you find cool, you won't care so much about your social status once you start going out with him.

— Stephanie Dolgoff