How can I survive the first day of high school?

• I'm pretty much the weirdest, most socially awkward 14 year old girl know to man. I can't make friends easily and to top it all off... I'm not very pretty. Actually, very chubby. Starting in a few months I will be attending Lake Weir High School. Most of my friends will be going to North Marion... How can I survive freshman year? Any advice is helpful.

• Answer:

  Not everyone is going to care about looks. In fact, most people will just be grateful if they make a couple of friends on the first day and won't really be concerned with people's appearances. Well at least I know that's what it was like for me. Just try your hardest to be nice to everyone, say hello and introduce yourself, ask questions about them (what school they were at, what classes they're in, if they know anyone etc) and try to find some common ground/interests. Don't worry about what they think of you, just put yourself out there. Anyone worth being friends with won't mind if you're awkward as long as you're friendly and nice. And everyone is weird in their own way... some of the 'weirdest' people in my school were also some of the most liked. Yes, some were the most disliked, but that was mainly because they freaked people out (a bit violent), or were really closed off and unapproachable. There will be a lot of people skinnier than you, and some bigger. But that shouldn't matter; did your old friends care how you looked? (I hope the answer is no, and your new ones shouldn't care either). And another thing, if it's not impacting on your health then there's nothing wrong with not being a stick. In fact, in terms of other people's opinions, in my senior years the only people I really noticed in terms of body image/appearance were those who wore what I considered to be unflattering and unsuitable clothes, and those who were so skinny I felt kind of sickened (looked like they were about to snap in half/legs give out). I'm slightly underweight myself, but have always been so - it's natural - so when I say I was sickened by really skinny people it wasn't because I was jealous or biased. Just be yourself, try and be really friendly even if you are awkward in social situations, and don't worry about what others think of your appearance. People will, or at least they did in my high school, care more about personality than looks. That's not to say there wasn't some who were incredibly shallow, but most SHOULD be able to see beyond appearances. No one likes to be with people they don't get along with because of their personalities, behaviour etc. Also, I've just gone off what you've said, but most people are too critical about themselves. I know I am. You probably are too.