I'm a firm believer that trying to fit in doesn't work. It makes you look fake. Most people can tell when your fake. Be yourself! And love yourself for who you are. Your probably wonderful by yourself anyways. As for the people who pick on you. I find most of the time when people do this they have issues. Either they have a jealousy towards that person. Or they have low self esteem. Hold your head High. Believe in yourself always. And try not to pay attention to those comments. Your beautiful just the way they are.

you realy said this beautiful.Very very nice.....

right !!!!

Why would you want the people who pick on you now to like you? If you know now that they' are people who are going to judge you because of the fact that you 'don't fit in', would you really want to know them if they started to be nice, knowing what they're basing their friendship on? There is always somebody out there who will accept you exactly the way you are, and you shouldn't settle for anything less, because comprimising yourself will make you feel much worse.

I've grown up in a household where picking on each other is just a way to show affection. People like to tease as it is a way to be friendly without being sappy. If they are picking on you about one specific thing a lot, that is probably a problem, but if they are just in general teasing, tease back. That's usually a good test of whether a person knows what message they are sending. Fighting fire with fire works when dealing with people.

"I'd rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I'm not."
LIVE BY THIS QUOTE. Why in the world would you want to fit in with people who don't accept you for the person you are? Be who YOU are and the people who really appreciate you for that will be the ones you belong to.

I know this is going to sound like a broken record, but just be yourself. I've been picked on for being myself, but I found that the people who picked on me during that time of my life, I still don't like. And they don't treat me that way anymore, but I still don't like who they are and who they've become. Not because of how they treated me, but there was just never something that set right w/ me and so I never fit in because of it, because I chose not to fit in, though at the time it didn't feel like that.

Sometimes it's just that they really are petty people. Appreciate the people who love you for who you are, because they're the one's you want to be around anyway and will bring out the best in you, and yes, sometimes the worst. The people who look down on you for being yourself are not your friends and you certainly don't want to be someone that you're not just so you can feel like you are. The charade will exhaust you and most of the time people notice you're not being genuine anyway.

Being an original is never easy. But, it is easier when you surround yourself with people you are close to and find what makes you unique to be refreshing. Sometimes people can surprise you, maybe a shared interest. I suppose if you really need to fit in, the key would be to find common ground. Don't try to worm your way into their hearts, just let it happen. You can generally feel the people you have a connection to fairly quickly, at least I do. Shared interests are a great way to build a friendship. But, again, never lie about an interest just to seem like you have something in common with them. NOT WORTH IT. A genuine friendship is better than a forced one.

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss.

I'm going to be 100% honest with you here-- grade school is tough. It's hard and most of the kids are mean, especially when you're a bit different. (I was a bit different and still proudly am!) But here's the truth from someone who got hurt, made fun of, and pranked as a young woman:

Being different kind of sucks when you are younger. People will learn to appreciate you as you get older. You will find a group in college or after college of people who are just as different/unique or as weird as you. This is a hard truth to swallow seeing as college may seem very far away, but there is a proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. This is also assuming you plan on going to college, which is always highly recommended!

As in regards to fitting in right this second? There are a few things I can advise you to do that might help you make friends. (Disclaimer: This is assuming you were anything the way I was.)

Number 1. Calm down. Take your time to form a thought before you spit one out. Think before you speak. And don't say something just to chime in. Wait until you can contribute something funny, interesting, or clever. People appreciate that. Learn some jokes, watch stand up comedy, follow pop culture so you have something people can relate to. If you can make people laugh, you will always be welcomed in a group.

Number 2. Find a safe zone. There are tons of forum boards online. Online communities and support chatrooms/groups are a healthy way to express your concerns, feelings, emotions with people from all around the world that feel the same way you do. Don't go around telling people about your secret online safe zone either. Let it be a private place that no one else who knows you can go. Be yourself and recognize there are others out there like you. They just might not be at your school.

Number 3. Find a cool hobby. Get into good music. Read fashion magazines. Create beaded jewelry, or learn how to knit! (Knitting is becoming very cool!) Having a hobby that you like and can share with people will really help. You can make great mixed CDs, bake amazing cookies for your class or table at lunch, knit a scarf for a friend...etc. Talents are quickly associated with higher "cool status." Don't you always want to be friends with the girl with the most amazing music collection? Yes! Make that girl be you! A suggestion: Sign up for http://rcrdlbl.com/ and receive their daily email which contains free music downloads to your itunes. Usually amazing tracks that will blow people away! And bonding over music has helped me make some great friends.

Number 4. Dress appropriately. Now, I'm not telling you to stop wearing what you like, nor should you dress like "everyone else." But, seriously consider the vibe you put off from what you might wear. Are you giving people something to poke fun at? Not that they EVER should, but if you are in a rough situation, maybe it's time to change your look. You'd be surprised how far this can really go. People will notice a change in your appearance and the positive attention will help you meet people. Are you a little overweight? Join a fun class at a gym. Are your glasses really thick? Try out some contacts or some new, hip frames. Are you wearing all black and heavy eye makeup? Tone it down! You're too young to cover up your natural beauty. Are you covered in spike necklaces, a million neon colored bracelets, or Twilight gear? Just tone it down for a little bit, and see what happens. I am in NO means trying to tell you to not be yourself, but these are small changes to help you "fit in" from someone who didn't fit in for a VERY long time.

Number 5. Ignore these jerks who are being mean to you. Either do that or come up with some comebacks that will really shut them up. If someone calls you a name, say something like, "I'd rather be _____ than be as rude as you are, because that really won't get you far in life." And leave it at that. Just work out a few good zings, write them down, and be prepared. Just don't get too defensive or emotional. Always remain calm and always remember THESE PEOPLE WON'T MATTER IN THE LONG RUN. Just get through this part of your life and come out stronger in the end.

Number 6. Lastly, but most importantly, do not isolate yourself. Don't tell people "I'm weird" when you're describing yourself. For example: "Hi, I'm Allison. I know I'm weird, but I don't care. Who are you?" Putting yourself in a category right away allows people to instantly associate you with the trait you've provided. Just relax and realize there's a place for you in this world. Us weirdos, us girls who are a bit different.. we're the ones who everyone is jealous of in the long run. Want to know why? It's because we did things our own way. We got creative and threw the rule book out the window. Don't ever underestimate your strength or beauty.

All the love in the world. I feel your pain and wish you luck in your endeavors to fit in.

Allison

Fitting in is like trying to fit in a wrong puzzle piece into another puzzle, it just doesn't work. It doesn't exist.

You can be whatever they expect you to be and yet there are still things that will always be wrong about you. Why?

Not only are kids mean-they ressemble the world itself. Not everyone is going to be all nice and lovey dovey to you.

Trust me, this is coming from a girl who always made fun of in high school.

The best thing i can say to you is BE YOURSELF. and take care of yourself (Be hygenic)
You won't be friends with everybody, and even when you try to place yourself in their expectations.

I told the school to screw themselves mentally and i found myself a group of friends who accepted me for me...Don't let the opinion of another make you who you are!

Okay? Embrace life, and don't be afraid to speak your mind!

If people don't like you for who you are, they're not worthy being with you. You'll always meet people who doesn't like you for who you are, just as you will meet people you don't like for who they are. Some will hate you, some will love you and you can't please them all. It's simply how we're made :)
I've been trough the bullying and hate myself, and the only way to stay strong is to be yourself. If they don't like you for who you are, they're simply not worthy your time nor your attention. I know it's not as easy to do it as it is to write it, but it's better in the long term.

Be yourself. Imitation is suicide :)

this exact same thing happens to me, and untill just recently, i have been getting really upset about it. But rather then concentrating on the people who don't appreciate you for you, think of the great people in your life. Show the bullies you don't care what they think, love your life, and be happy :)

I understand exactly how you feel. I am an oddball and never felt like I fit in because of how different I was. However, what I do now is "blend in" at times, while still maintaining my individuality. This may sound like a contradiction but in practice it is not.

Basically what I do is, find out what my peers are interested in and research it. It is sort of like getting to know someone you are dating, you may not share similar interests, but in order to share more things in common you go out of your way to become interested in one of his/her interests. Think of it like that.

For example, I am not big on popular culture. However, I couldn't help but fall in love with Lady Gaga's music. This is something lots of people I know talk about, so it is a gateway to getting to know my peers, but learning about their interests. It is fine if you don't like everything they like, but by doing your research, you have something to talk about.

I hope my advice helped in a way and that I answered your question.

I should also add, to remain true to yourself, I know that a lot of people are put off by the fact that I study paganism and am into things that are not common interests for people my age. You must learn to embrace who you are.