I have been reading about the girls who took advantage of older people in the nursing home.

When I was in school, I really thought the popular kids were it, even though they were drinking, taking drugs, gossipy, sleeping around, mean to kids they thought weren’t good enough to be in their popular group. And I wanted to be more like them?

I hope the kids who think they aren’t popular, good enough, pretty enough, handsome enough, smart enough realize that they are just as good if not better than the popular kids.

Look what happened to those girls and what could happen to them later in life if they don’t turn their lives around.

Everyone, no matter who they are, makes mistakes and is no better or worse than anyone else. Everyone was put on this earth for a reason. Find out what that reason is and live a good life and be respectful of others no matter how young or old.

As you get older, your lives will change, your feelings will change, your attitude will change. You will learn you won’t live forever, so be the best you can be.

You don’t have to follow the crowd or be like everyone else; being unique makes you stand out in a crowd.

People need someone to look up to, someone who believes in doing the right thing, someone who has a conscience and knows right from wrong.

It takes inner strength to do the right thing. How much strength does it take to follow the crowd?

Diane Tuchtenhagen

Albert Lea