By Anna G.'29 and Meredith Y.'30
Popularity is a complex concept and a hot topic in today’s world. From the pink-clad mean girls of pop culture to the powerful witches of Wicked, the media gives us all kinds of examples. These portrayals help shape how we think about popularity, but in real life, the definition is often more personal. In the Middle Division, popularity might mean having many friends, wearing the latest trends, or simply being well-known. To explore this idea, we sent a survey asking students how they perceive popularity in our community.
Is There a Social Hierarchy?
According to most students who responded, the answer is yes.
“I think there is a hierarchy,” said one anonymous sixth grader. “People who have been here longer or have parents who work at the school are more popular. I also think people who are more outgoing or considered prettier are more popular. People who play sports a lot are also more popular.”
Another student added, “All the ones who are more popular are at the top. People with many friends or ‘followers’ are in the middle. Then there are just normal people who have friends, like me.”
Many other responses shared similar views, pointing out that social standing in Middle Division often feels like a structured ladder.
What Makes Someone Popular?
There is no single definition of popularity, but our survey results revealed some patterns.
78% of students said that having many friends makes someone popular.
56.1% said being good at sports, being funny, or being outgoing can also contribute.
34.8% believed that wearing trendy clothes helps a person become popular.
One eighth-grader shared this reflection: “I think being popular means you fit into the social standards of what is trending. At every school I have been to, there is a pattern. You are more likely to be popular if you are pretty, athletic, more extroverted, have a lot of friends, buy the trending stuff, and listen to or dance to trending music.”
How Much Do Students Care About Popularity?
While many students recognize a social structure, not all place importance on it.
According to the survey, 45.5 percent of students consider themselves popular.
63.6% said they were happy with their social standing.
24.2% said they do not care about popularity at all.
Only 12.1% wished they were more popular.
When asked whether popularity helps someone make friends, 41.5% said yes, while almost an equal 41.4% said it helps only sometimes. A small percentage, 6.2%, believed popularity does not affect friendships, and 10.8% were unsure.
Does Popularity Affect Student Life?
Some students believe that popularity affects how others treat you.
“If you are more popular, people will be nicer to you and talk to you more, even if they do not really like you,” one student said. “Many people become friends with popular students just to become more popular themselves, which is a selfish reason.”
Another student offered this insight: “I think popularity affects everyone, no matter who you are. People who care about it a lot become more self-conscious and try to fit into those trending standards. But you can choose how much it influences your life.”
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, popularity is shaped by personal opinion and social trends. Whether someone is popular because they play sports, dress a certain way, or have a lot of friends, the most important thing is deciding how much it matters to you. Popularity might get attention, but being kind, confident, and true to yourself will always have lasting value.