The following is based off of conversations with real people who attend Air Academy and feel as though nobody notices them.

I moved here my sophomore year knowing nobody.  I know I sit alone, but it’s harder than it looks to find friends like the ones I’ve lost.  Here, it seems like people have given up on me. 

Usually, people will do one of three things: 1) talk to me once and never again, 2) seem like they’re antsy to get back to their group of friends, or 3) talk to me about only surface level topics.  It’s hard because I can see through it.

At least these people talk to me.  I also notice the hundreds of people who walk past me as if I don’t exist every day.

I have stopped trying to make connections with people who have given up on me.  I’ve had tons of friends, but I’ve also lost tons of friends.  Moving here, it’s almost as though I’ve given up on friendships because I know they can’t be one-sided.  I’m just tired.

I’ve become so aware.  I look around at lunch and see the people who are loud and confident, and I know that talking to others comes easy to them.  All of my people watching has taught me about why people hang out with who they do.  For the most part, groups stay together because they’re comfortable together.  Seeking comfort is a big part of high school because these years are difficult for everyone.  I guess I’m just most comfortable being introverted, but sadly, most people have a hard time with me being “different”.

People who are introverted have some of the most creative minds out there.  There’s a really cool test which asks individuals to draw their ideal other world.  More often than not, introverts came up with a world that was more complex, imaginative, and colorful than extroverts.  I do like spending time alone because I’m free to be as creative as I want.

Yes, I am a quiet person, so when I meet another quiet person, we can be friends.  But loud people can be friends with quiet people too.  Studies show that extroverts are statistically better matched with introverts.

I do wish people would come up and talk to me.  I’m a kid too, just like everyone else here.

Social skills are really difficult for quiet people, making it difficult to relate to others.  You might notice a lot of quieter people sitting with headphones on.  For me that’s because with music, I can focus on myself.  Where I can’t relate to people, music is cool because it gives me an outlet to relate my problems to.

I notice that people don’t see me.  I’m just a kid in these other kid’s classes, and sometimes that’s not even enough to be noticed.

Social cues are difficult for me.  I’m still working on how to interact with others by seeing certain social cues around me.

It’s not like this all the time for me.  For instance, whenever I’m sad or feel alone, my solution is to read encouraging words about hope.

Maybe you can relate to these statements, or maybe you couldn’t imagine a world without community.  Friends are an incredible thing, but there are also too many people at our own high school who can literally say they have no friends.

But maybe they’d be creeped out if I talked to them.

Maybe they like to be alone.

We have nothing in common.

The problem with these excuses is that walking by people so used to being ignored becomes a desensitized norm.  The reality is that differences are a positive, healthy part of life.  Widening your social circles to the people at Air Academy who feel cast aside because of their differences contains the power to change a life.  Relationships can’t be forced, but as a word from the (not actually) “invisible” kids:  open your eyes and notice as you walk down the hallway today.  You have the power to build community and create a positive difference in lives that matter more than they get credit for.

Thanks for listening to the voices that are not heard often enough.