I was never a popular student.

High school was full of memories, but I wouldn't say I was popular. In fact, I was far from it. I was just more of the quiet, background kind of student—the one who could sit in a room and blend in, without drawing any attention. I wasn’t interested in joining the popular crowd or getting my name out there. I just preferred doing my own thing, mostly keeping to myself and staying indoors whenever possible.

When it came to school activities, like social parties or sports, I automatically stayed away. It wasn’t that I hated them, but I never really felt the need to be in the spotlight. I just didn’t feel drawn to participating in events that put me on display. My comfort zone was working quietly on my own, and staying out of sight.

Although, there were some scenarios where I actually got noticed. For instance, I remember a few times when I would have forgotten my textbook for class. The teacher would call on me to read from it , and i would have to admit that I didn’t have my book. Those moments, were probably why some of my classmates—especially the girls—started to recognize me. But even then, I wasn’t exactly "popular" in the traditional sense. I was just known as the guy who had his awkward moments.

Most of the students who knew me were the boys in my class. With them, it was easy to talk and be myself without feeling self-conscious. However, when it came to talking to girls, it was a different story. I didn’t like having conversations with them and that was because i tend to be a bit shy and nervous around some of them so most times the only thing i do is just to ask them for pencil or pen in the class.

Looking back, I realize I was happier staying low-key. I didn’t want the added pressure that came with being well-known in school. I just loved doing my own things with some of my friends and I saw how those who were popular got singled out the second they made any mistakes. If you were well-known, it was almost like you had a spotlight on you all the time, which meant everyone knew when you messed up. I wasn’t interested in that kind of attention. I valued my privacy and felt more at ease knowing that people weren’t constantly watching what I was doing.

There were other advantages to staying out of the limelight. When you’re not popular, you can make mistakes and learn from them without feeling judged by everyone around you. I could enjoy my high school years without the extra baggage of trying to fit in with a certain crowd or live up to certain expectations. I could be myself—awkward, quiet, and, yes, sometimes a bit invisible. It was a simpler, more comfortable way to go through school, and I wouldn’t change it if I could. But then i wished i socialised more when it comes talking to the girls because that has kind of affected me currently when i have to form a relationship with them.

At the end of the day, I may not have had a crowd of people cheering me on or waiting to sit with me at lunch, but I still made some genuine friends who saw me for who I was. And those friendships have stayed with me long after high school ended. I didn’t think i needed to be popular to enjoy high school or create meaningful memories. I stayed true to myself, kept a small circle of friends, and found happiness in my own way. That’s more important to me than any popularity I could’ve had.

Thanks to @galenkp for this topic.