In high school and even some of middle school, your popularity is pretty much guaranteed by how well you fit in. At least, that's how it was for me. It's all about sticking with the status quo.

You and your friends all shop at the same stores, have the same interests, and do all of the same things. You do your hair the same, like all the same music, watch the same shows—it's all about being a part of the "in" crowd. And when you differ from the majority, that's when you get labeled as weird or a loser. That's what I used to think, anyways.

Now being in college and having done a lot of growing up within the course of a few short months, one of the biggest things that I learned is that being just like everyone else and conforming to the "norm" will get you nowhere.

Not in college, not with jobs, internships, scholarships, or anything that you are competing for. Putting yourself out there and trying something different is the only way to really be successful. Playing it safe rarely results in the more rewarding outcome.

Someone very wise (my mom) once told me that the harder and more challenging option is always more worth it in the end. As it turns out, she's right. Per usual. I've never gotten complimented on playing it safe or blending in with everyone else. It always turns out that when I wear the thing, do the thing, or say the thing that was more risky or "out-there" that I always get the most compliments.

So today, I challenge you to do something out of your comfort zone. Take a risk and make yourself more unique. Whether it be wearing the shoes you weren't sure about, being the person that's overdressed for the occasion, or sharing the opinion that is contrary to popular belief. You won't ever regret being yourself. The only thing that you could regret is trying to fit in and be someone who you aren't.

For a larger part of my life than I would like to admit, I would actively try so hard to fit in and be just like everyone else. I thought that was what I had to do in order to be happy or cool or to have friends. If there was anything that made me different or unique I would try and hide that for the sake of saving myself from embarrassment.

To me, being different from all of my friends was a bad thing and anything that made me stand out too much was bad or wrong. God forbid I didn't have the newest season's pair of Uggs or own something from the new VS line. Towards the end of my last years of high school, I slowly started to realize that hiding who I am and what makes me unique is a bunch of BS.

I realized that people are going to look at you and talk about you regardless, so you might as well give them something to look at. The person that I am now doesn't mind standing out in a crowd or being the center of attention. It only took years of maturity and a re-evaluation of myself to realize this. To this day, one of my biggest regrets is spending so much of my young adult life trying to hide who I am and what makes me special.

So to the girl who was entering high school and wanting nothing more than to fit in with the popular crowd, my one piece of advice for you is to simply be yourself. Everyone else is taken. Don't be so afraid to be different or to take risks. Succeed or fail, at least you put yourself out there. After all, why fit in when you were born to stand out?