Ozze -- I wouldn't take the "lot of people" too seriously.

Teaching college, we faculty laugh over the famous student line, "A lot of other students feel the same way." A student would come to my office to complain -- about a deadline for a test or assignment being too soon, or too hard, or grading being too harsh. And would bolster this opinion by adding, "And a lot of other students feel that way." I'd tell the student that the others should come in and represent themselves. Generally, no one showed, but if a couple more stopped by, I'd figure that "the natives are restless," as they used to say in 1940s jungle fliks. My rule of thumb was that if one student asked a question or spoke about anything, there were probably five more that felt the same way.

So at most, there may be 5 people at your school who feel this way.

Besides, HS is notoriously cliquish. Some of the folks who are popular -- the cheerleaders, the winning quarterback -- wind up being slovenly housewives and washed-up salespeople. A film director I know, who like many struggled early in his career, once said to me, "I don't understand people who peak in high school." Meaning, the people who for the rest of their lives keep telling about how great they were in HS, but never achieve anything else. They are always back there in their minds, organizing HS reunions.

Your friend's remark shows a lot of immaturity. Why was the disclosure made at this time? Was beer or alcohol involved? Constructive criticism points out specific things you do and uses "I" statements: "I feel hurt when you rush down the hallway and don't say to me. Did I do something to offend you?" Or even, "I'm concerned. Jake and Emily said you never stop by their table in the cafeteria, and they're puzzled. Is anything wrong?"

Moreover, hate is a strong emotion and probably inappropriate in the course of normal school relations. What did you to do these people? Set fire to their lockers? Get them in trouble with teachers? Steal girlfriends? These might be reasons for "hate." But that's the problem with clicks. They are like small mobs, engaging in mob mentality. They find a scapegoat and boost their own egos by making someone else feel small.

Don't buy into it. Their hate is their problem, not yours.

Given the click mentality of high school, being hated may well mean that you are your own person of integrity and character who doesn't follow the crowd. And that would be a good thing.

Now that school is over, you will have a chance to build your own exciting future. Congratulations on graduation. Enjoy these moments of fulfillmentj and take time to smell the flowers, as one of my mentors told me.