Hi, lately I've noticed that the group I'm sitting with in school and hanging out with after school is acting really stupid. I used to have so much fun with them before. We've known each other since primary school. They've started getting into trouble everyday with teachers and getting on detention. They expect me to join in with vandalism and bullying people around the school but I don't want to. They call me lame and a nerd if I stand up to them. I don't find it fun like they do. Is there something wrong with me? Am I just un-cool? They've even started bringing caffeine tablets to school and popping them to get "high".

Help me!
Angelica, 15.

Hi Angelica,
Firstly, 10 points to you for sticking up for yourself and for standing up to your friends when you feel they're doing the wrong thing because, girlie, they really are.

When you've had friends since primary school, it can be really hard to break away from them. It also becomes hard when the way you think, your interests and even what you find fun and exciting becomes different to what your best friends from primary school have in mind, but you have to realise that people continuously change throughout their life, especially through high school, and as horrible as it seems, friendships won't always be the same.

Ask your mum, aunty, big sister or even your grandmother next time you have a conversation with them and I guarantee that they haven't had the same friends since they were young.

Sometimes changing groups in school is the right thing to do, especially when you feel that your safety, education etc is at jeopardy. I mean popping caffeine pills? Addictive behaviour at your age is just ridiculous. I feel like slapping them over the head. "Popping pills" is in no way cool. Just think what they will be up to in a few years, do you really want to be involved in that?

Hope I've helped,
Sarah xxx