ShmoopTube

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[Coop and Dino singing]

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So, today…we’re not gonna talk about grammar or vocabulary or literary devices…

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Instead, we're focusing on you and your friends. It’s like getting a freebie therapy session. [Friends in a therapy session]

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Sweet.

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Figuring out our friends and numero uno…aka ourselves… can sometimes be even trickier [Woman looking at herself in a mirror]

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than grammar, because when it comes to personal identity and relationships, there's no book

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of rules that explains how everything works.

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But there IS this video. So at least that’s something. [Man watching shmoop video]

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Okay, let's start with you. It might seem obvious to say that you know who you are,

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but it's important to remember that who you are changes quite a bit over time. Especially

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if you happen to be a caterpillar.

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In our daily lives, we’re always growing, learning, and changing… and the things that [List of things to do]

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define us, such as our values, personality traits, likes, and dislikes, are bound to

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change as well. [Person crosses out justin bieber concert on calendar]

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When you were really little, you might have been a big fan of, like, blocks or something.

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You were easy to please.

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But those same blocks might not be quite so thrilling today. You're still the same person; [Boy grown up and building blocks fall to the floor]

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it's just that, well, you’re a little bit smarter than you were when you were a baby.

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Nowadays, for a block to entertain you it has to light up and spin around and make eerily

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accurate Super Bowl predictions. [Building block spins and shows Bronco's]

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As complicated as our ever-changing selves are, things get even more complicated when

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you throw other people into the mix. [Man driving with friends]

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You might have a very specific view of who you are – you have pretty direct access,

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after all – but other people might see you a little bit differently. [Person walking in corridor as king and transforms into normal clothing]

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In school, we’re often defined by our behavior and our social characteristics, such as whether

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we’re leaders or followers …

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…academically or physically inclined… [Women racing on a track]

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...and if we’re outgoing or reserved and shy.

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Sometimes, the way others perceive us lands us in a specific group of people. A lot of

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the time, that’s A-Okay. People with similar interests end up hanging out with each other [People hanging out at a cafe]

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and they have a great time together. Hopefully they haven’t connected over,

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I don't know…bank-robbing or something.

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But when that group of people starts to prevent others who are different from joining, that’s [Football group shake heads at man who wants to join]

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called a clique. And if that word doesn’t immediately strike fear into your heart, check

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out the movie Mean Girls.

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When cliques form, people’s feelings get hurt, and bullying can happen… [People bullying a boy on the school bus]

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…whether it’s someone bullying people to not join…

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…or bullying people to join.

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Either way, it's…not cool. We’re talking to you, Sharpay Evans from Disney Channel’s [People watching High School Musical 2]

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High School Musical.

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If you're feeling left out of a clique or a group of friends, it’s important to talk

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about your feelings.

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Talk to your friends, parents, teacher, or counselor in order to solve the problems, [Man approaches teacher]

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but remember: don’t get down on yourself. It is soooo them.

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And if you find yourself in a clique and you see someone being left out on purpose, try

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to help them - or at least tell a trusted adult. Just because cliques happen doesn't [Boy walks up to Cliques "R" Us store]

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mean you have to keep them going.

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Actually, you should do the exact opposite. You can, like, become a masked vigilante called

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the Clique Destroyer, breaking up cliques in the name of fairness and fun. [Man in football group hit in the head by a football]

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Don’t forget to grab your cape out of the dryer before leaving the house…

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Friendships are complicated animals, but if you're true to your personal identity, honest

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about your feelings, and kind to other people, your life and the lives of others can be much [Coop explaining how to lead a happier life]

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better, and you’ll be much happier.

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And that might be even more useful than punctuation. Maybe.

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