Cliques: Been There Done That

Photo Illustration by Reuben Buchanan| VOX Staff

By Crystal Jordan
VOX Staff

How would you feel if you were standing in a crowded room not knowing anybody? Don’t you think you’d feel left out or all alone? Exactly. That is why it is good to have a clique. They are not always a bad thing; cliques are necessary for surviving high school.

Maybe the term is being mixed up or misused. By definition, a clique is a narrow or exclusive circle or group of people often held together by common interests, views or purposes. That does not mention anything about having hatred toward others or looking down on them. Having a close-knit circle of people who you can relate to and share memories with is a cool connection. Granted, family members can have similar bonds, but it is just an amazing feeling to have so many things in common with people that you aren’t even related to.

Me and My Girls
For me, my clique started back in the eighth grade. All nine of us were extremely close and looked out for one another. We called ourselves the Too Cute Crew. It wasn’t like anyone in the school referred to us by TCC, but it was a fun little way of setting ourselves apart from other cliques and establishing recognition with boys.

We didn’t act as if we were better than anyone else or super high class. We got along with everyone (for the most part). If there were other cool girls around, they were more than welcome to befriend us and all would be good. We weren’t exclusive.

Honestly, I do not think anyone at our high school got a negative, hateful vibe from any of us. We weren’t the Mean Girls most people think of when they think of a pretty group of best friends. We were just teenage girls who liked to have fun. We went to football games on Friday, shopped on Saturday for parties that night, slept in late on Sunday and did it all over again week after week. For me and the rest of the clique, TCC was harmless and fun.

Growing up and Growing Apart
Aside from our joking and fun, we didn’t play around when it came to one another. We knew that whatever the situation, we would have each others’ back. A time when that true friendship and loyalty came into play was when my grandfather died. Because all the girls knew my family and were so close to me it was easy for them to help me cope with the situation. All my girls were there to give me words of encouragement and positive thoughts. I honestly don’t even know what I would have done without them. It would have been extremely hard to get over his death.

Now that we have all branched off and either gone away to college or started working, the closeness has been lost, but I would not have wanted anything more than to be a part of my clique all four years of high school. TCC was definitely necessary for my social life survival because I needed others to relate to and make memories with — all the things friends typically do.

A Misunderstanding
Being in college now, I see a whole new side to cliques — there are hardly any cliques in college. I had no close friends going to college with me, so I was forced outside of my comfort zone. Not having my girls with me and being the new girl on the first day was challenging, but I overcame that. I don’t know why, but it seemed way easier to start a conversation with someone new in college as opposed to high school. It didn’t feel as if I was overstepping the supposed boundaries associated with cliques. But I would still prefer to have my clique rather than no one at all. I like knowing I will always have my girls.

To me, it seems that there is a group for every person. Whether you’re considered goth, emo, preppy, a nerd, a jock, a thug, a skater or whatever, you are not alone. You just may not realize it. Finding your clique can help you get through those tough times in high school and have fun. You’re in it together.

Crystal is a freshman at Georgia Perimeter College. She can’t wait to transfer to Georgia State University in the fall.