I think kids are individuals just as adults are, and some have a greater need for approval than others. I was pretty independent at that age, and didn't get involved in groups. I wanted to look good, but I rebelled against the cookie cutter mentality in high school.
It's not admirable, but I would have totally enjoyed one-upping people with Gore-tex pants.
I always laughed when adults said "Oh, you want to be like your friends." I had a smart aleck reply along the lines of: "Yes, I want to be a short, tall, fat, thin, Baptist, Buddhist, Catholic who is going to law school, becoming a nurse, getting married, joining the Peace Corp and the Army..." etc.




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