If you are in high-school then the popularity mentality can be a big deal. Once you're out of that ferment-pit of competitive insecurity you'll find that being yourself and relating to people on a base, human level becomes alot easier. Basically, people 'grow up' alot once they are shoved out of the artificiality of school and into the real world where being genuine really
does matter. Grit your teeth and hang in there (and whatever you do, don't watch too many of those ridiculously misleading teen movies. They'll rot your brain lad!
).