Yesterday, a young woman I know said something that made me feel sick. It made me think about what REAL is trying to achieve and if we are actually achieving anything at all?

The young lady, who I will refer to as Miss X, dropped her twelve year old sister off at her new high school. The younger sister is starting year seven, and while she does not even know it yet, she is about to embark on one hell of a journey, full of crazy, funny, sad, overwhelming, scary and wonderful moments that she will reminisce and talk about for many, many years.

Miss X with much wisdom told her nervous younger sister this:

'Don't worry, you will be OK, just pick out the prettiest girls and be friends with them.'

At this point of conversation I was pretty much in disbelief that people still thought this way, all could I muster was a pretty lame,  'Excuse me, you said what?'

So Miss X, what you are saying is that all the 'hot' and 'pretty' girls (who defines who that is anyway?) are the best friends to have. That these are the girls who will take care of your little sister when a boy breaks up with her, call her at night when she has been in bed with the flu for three days, send her a post card from Queensland in July, be honest with her and believe in her, even when she doesn't believe in herself? 

What you are saying is that these girls, based simply on their appearance will always have your back, no matter what happens...simply because they are ''hot' and 'pretty' ??

I think this is shallow.

The thing that really gets to me about this comment is that Miss X did not even believe in her own sister! She did not believe that her sister was amazing and fantastic enough in her own way to make almost equally amazing and fantastic friends. Instead the only way she believe that her sister will be popular is to hang out with the 'hot' and 'pretty' people.

I have a sister to and I would never ever tell her that, because I think she is amazing in her own right. She has friends that care about her and despite everything that happens they will be there for her. I never told her to find ‘hot’ and ‘pretty’ friends- I don’t think the way you look defines the type of person you are.  

So, if you ever read this, that girl who started Year 7 yesterday, I want you to know this...

Be friends with people that make you feel good, that make you laugh, that truly care about you and believe in you.

Why? Because you are worth it. Believe in yourself, be strong and get ready to have the best time of your life!

GET REAL MISS X