Everyone always says they want to fit in.  However, there are always those few kids who feel they will never fit in, no matter WHAT they do.  I was one of those kids.  I'm in grade 11 now and am perfectly fine with being different, because that's what makes me special!  I was always self conscious and afraid of what other people thought of me because I was always 'the NEW kid,' but now, I'm happy and proud of who I am, because so many wonderful people have helped me along.  My family moves around a lot; we've never lived somewhere longer than 5 years.  In the younger grades, there are those few outgoing kids that will come up and talk to you, get to know you.  But in high school, no one even bothers. I was always hearing people talk about me behind my back, making assumptions about me because I hadn't been with them for a long time and they didn't know me.  For the first month of being the new kid in high school, I kept to myself because nobody would talk to me.  Even some of the teachers didn't seem to notice I was there!  Eventually, I decided it was time to try and talk to someone and make some friends, instead of waiting for them to come to me.  But when I tried that, people STILL wouldn't talk to me, and I would still here rumors about me going around.  Things like: the weird girl, stupid, loser, loner; the list could go on forever.  I didn't feel like I could talk to my parents about it, so I just kept lying to them, making up friends, pretending I was loving this new school, new place, when really, I was feeling lonely and depressed.  Later on, I decided I would try again.  And I swear, it was a miracle, I actually found a small group of people that would talk to me!  I found out that in these situations, you just have to find those few people that don't care about not knowing you their whole lives, and people who will like you for YOU.  The won't create rumors, they'll ALWAYS stand by you, and they will NEVER judge you.  I am still really good friends with those few people who I did eventually make friends with, and I know I will never be part of the 'popular' crowd, and I am perfectly okay with that, because that's not who I am.  Sometimes, the people you THINK you want to fit in with, aren't the people you SHOULD be fitting in with.  Never give up hope of finding a FRIEND, because hey are out there, you just have to look hard enough.  I still occasionally get made fun of and picked on the 'popular' kids, but I know that I have friends who can help me through it.  I am not going to tell anyone who is being bullied in any way, shape, or form that ignoring it is going to help, because it doesn't; I've tried.  The best you can do is surround yourself with the people who love and care for you, and who you love and care for.  Talk to them, no matter how horrible or uncomfortable you feel, because NOTHING can help you more than LOVE, and KINDESS.  When you notice someone new, don't shy away from them, make them feel welcome.  After all, they just may be the most wonderful friend you could ever have.