School is a complex experience for teenage girls. The social hierarchy is difficult to navigate and many girls complain of feeling alienated and report they are being teased and bullied.

Even if girls enjoy school, do well in class, engage in sport and feel part of the community, the constantly changing landscape of friendships, combined with the huge expectations from staff and parents make for an often challenging time for at least 60% of all girls.

We live in a society that lauds high achievement and celebrity, so it's no surprise that our girls feel pressure as they work their way through school. 

Ruth 16 WA
I am happy with everything in my life right now except for school. It is so time consuming, I want to be able to do well but still have time for my friends and family and my boyfriend. It doesn't help that we're expected to have a clear idea of what we want to do in life right now. It's really stressful.

Rachel 13
I just wish that bullying stopped forever. I wish that everyone could live in peace and be friends. I also wish our homework wasn't so hard and boring but I can't change that. I wish people would realise that people with glasses are not alien freaks and that we can be really cool people to be friends with. If bitching, fighting, bullying didn't exist, the world would be a better place. I wish good make up was affordable and that I got more pocket money. I wish that people would respect me for who I am and what I like instead of teasing me about it. I just want to live my life in peace.

Anonymous 13 NSW
I hate the way that everyone teases everyone else just because they don't look the same as you do, and then if you are even better looking than they are, you still get teased because they don't want to see you as competition. This doesn't make any sense and is just plain hypocritical. It basically means that you will never be accepted for the way you look in their eyes, unless you become 'one of them'.

Rhiannon 14 New Zealand
I love the way I look, I don't see what is wrong with it. But when I go to school everything is different, there is so much pressure to be the skinniest girl, the prettiest girl, the most talented girl.

Amanda 17 VIC
I was told once that if girls stop bitching about each other we could rule the world!

Emily 15 QLD
I must admit I don’t like a lot of stuff about myself but I have been told when you leave school, whether or not you got picked on because of weight wont matter...the grades will.

Kristy 13 QLD
Heya ya'll, well I just wanna say that most of you all think that if ur not 'popular' u aint anything, that’s completely wrong!!! Im in the middle of changing crowds from the uncool to the cool crowd and I have realised that they ain’t much different from each other. Its just that the so called 'popular' people know a lot of people and the uncool people tend to stick to the same crowd, everything else is the same, the friendships r the same, the everything is the same, so next time u compare urself to the 'popular' girls, just think that they’re not so different and chances are they’re comparing themselves to people too...

Anonymous 13 NSW
Just remember, you go to school to find your bridesmaids not ur husbands!

Katelyn 15 WA
I hate the way that other people look at you when you’re different. Everyone is saying be yourself, stand out but who wants to do that when 'popular' people just stare at you funny. The whole popularity thing sucks too. Who says that one group or one person is pretty or special or a good person, why can’t we all be equal?

Sarah 16 QLD
I hate it when girls bitch about each other. Don't they know it is just hurtful and no good comes from it? This sounds a bit corny!!! But the people you go to school with are sorta like your family. Your grade is a group a people that you have known for about 5 years. Instead of spreading poison about each other interact with each other, learn their spirit and you might learn something! Be friendly to someone you have never talked to before!

Rebecca 14 QLD
I have recently moved high schools and I have found it really hard because I have had people judge me before they know me. But I have learnt that these people just aren't worth it. I am also really body conscience because of people like this. So if there is ever a new girl I will DEFINITELY help them because I know what it feels like.

Ashley 18 New Zealand
I was once bullied and it was the most scariest thing that I had to deal with, going to school everyday and fearing what the bullies would say to me, in the end I went to a adult who I trusted and told her everything and she helped me stop them from bullying me or anyone. I have learned how to stand up for myself and take everyday to the full.

Anonymous 11 NSW
I hate when you talk to someone and they're not popular and your friends come along and just say 'Why are you talking to them, they're feral and weird?”.

Anonymous 12 NSW
I'm above average intellectually but I’m weak so I am worried that if I do well at something at school my friends will make fun of me and call me a nerd some people already do. Because of this I don’t strive hard and do my best. This affects my relationship with my family. All these things make my self-esteem really bad and I’m sure other girls can relate.

Nicole 14 QLD
I know I’m only 14, but I'm already feeling the pressure from school and family to get the highest possible marks.

Alice 13 NSW
I have tried all my life to be in the most popular group at school, and now that I’ve started high school I am in 'that group' and I hate it. All these girls who are meant to be friends are gossiping behind each others backs, shoplifting, using their boyfriends - each has had at least 7 - and even smoking in the school toilets. It really makes me wonder how girls with such gorgeous looks and great personalities can do such stupid things to fit in. So girls be yourself and don’t stress over how you look or who you hang with at lunchtimes because hanging with the 'plastics' isn’t all its cracked up to be.

Shanon 14 New Zealand
I hate it how at school people are placed in "groups" like you get the popular group or the computer nerds things like that. I don’t see the point in it, what is the different between geeks or popular people, just because some people enjoy doing looking at computer stuff it shouldn’t make them a nerd. I am personally in the "cool" group and I don’t see the difference; I talk to everyone that’s in my year practically and there is no different. In away it’s just as bad as racism well it pretty much is just in a different form. God didn’t create this world so that people can judge each other like this I think its childish and some well most people should get over the fact that they are better than someone in some way because that same person would kick your arse at something else, we were all made differently and we should respect that.

Shelly 13 New Zealand
At our school everyone seems to be nice about looks to everyone’s faces, but behind the backs it's sometimes like "her haircut is gross" or "she’s becoming anorexic" I can't say that I haven't done it myself, but can't we stop?

Anonymous 16 ACT
I have just entered college and I find that the best part of college is that everyone is different. Everyone looks different and the pressure that was there in high school to be 'perfect' is nonexistent.

Ally 15 NSW
I can never stand one girl being isolated and picked on by a hole bunch of other girls you can see the pain in her face and sense she is feeling intimidated. To me being outnumbered by a group of girls swearing and cursing and often threatening is the worst feeling in the world. Bullying is just so unacceptable but common. I’ve been through many experiences and the key is to speak with your mind not your anger. If worst comes to worst tell a professional. I know I mite sound like a school councillor or parent In the end of the day you know these girls must not feel very good about themselves. Plus reported bullying can lead to expulsion, and if you are so worthless, nerdy, skanky, etc. why would they risk their whole education and future career just to make you feel bad.

Christie 15 NSW
I always felt confident throughout primary school but after 3 years of high school I'm still not comfortable in the playground. I find it hard to be myself. People say high school isn't a big deal, I was one of them, but it is! Girls I'm not talking about the plastics, just normal girls are under HEAPS of pressure to buy the latest fashions, always have perfect hair, like "cool" guys & most of all have the perfect body. I hate the expectations of big boobs, small hips, clear complexion etc. Girls like the plastics only tease because they're insecure deep down, but still seem to enjoy tormenting us so called "nerds".

Daniella 15 VIC
I am sick of there always being a popularity contest at school. I have this friend and she always get teased and bagged because she is and individual who doesn’t go with the flow and doesn’t listen to the same music as them. I love her style. Im glad that she is who she is.