Ashley was outspoken, fashionable, and the "Queen Bee" in my school.

I looked up to her and idolized her. I listened to the music she listened to, wore the clothes she wore. I even took art class though I had really wanted to take theatre. I finally fitted in ______ group.

One day, I skipped out of my last class a few minutes early to

______ seats for our group at the dining hall. Concentrating on my homework, I didn't notice they had sat down behind me. Before I could say a word, I realized what they were ______.

I listened silently. "She's such a loser," one girl said.

Another girl added, "Ashley, she ______ follows you, trying to copy you."

"I wish she would leave us alone. We were in the same summer school and now she thinks we're best friends." The once familiar voice sounded so ______ and strange.

   I was mortified. My hands were shaking. I couldn't help crying ______. I felt heart-broken

for the very first time. How did this happen? I ______ we were friends.

I ran home. My mother just held me while I sobbed for hours. The advice she gave was so ________, and I had heard it a million times. "Just be yourself and people will like you for ________you are. " This time it became so profound. Then and there I ______ to find myself back. That was exactly-what I did.

Over the next month, I went through a lot of ______. I bought new clothes that I wanted to wear. I no longer went to art class ______ them, and took theatre. I began making new friends. I developed my own ______ and never again followed the crowd.

I had an amazing school year. ______ I look back, I think it was the year when I discovered the person I was going to be. Despite the pain I felt that day, it was a ______ they had given me.