Yes, I belong to this circle. We all met during our freshman year in college and became close after just a couple of months. As time went on, different individuals with unique personalities and perspectives found each other. From being strangers to becoming the closest of friends—it’s a typical friendship story. What began as a casual conversation with mere classmates grew into something meaningful: our friendship.
Our circle created a space where we can be ourselves. We aren’t perfect; we’re humans who make mistakes. We fight with each other, our opinions clash, but at the end of the day, we still run back to one another. To our classmates, though, the way we think and carry ourselves seems different. That’s why they labeled us the “black sheep” circle.
We were never true outsiders—it’s just that our opinions and actions often didn’t align with the majority in our classroom. When everyone agreed to something just to blend in, we were the ones who spoke up with clarifications and alternative perspectives. This didn’t always sit well with our classmates, so they saw us as rebels. Whenever our actions didn’t align with theirs, they judged us immediately. Every time our opinions contradicted those of classmates who were respected by many, we were labeled. This happened especially during school events or activities we chose not to attend—not because we didn’t care, but because we had our own valid reasons. Sometimes, they tried to dominate us simply because they had more influence.
Despite this, our bond grew stronger. We supported, comforted, and fought for each other, because that’s what real friendship is. Being labeled as “black sheep” didn’t break us—it made us even more solid as a group. We celebrate our differences, laugh at our little misunderstandings, and stand together through challenges. Our friendship became a space where being different doesn’t make us less of a person; it’s simply who we are. We don’t need to prove ourselves to anyone, and we don’t have to agree with the majority just to be accepted. Everyone has their own stand—and so do we.
Now that we’re nearing the end of our college journey, we’ve learned to value the fact that being different is okay. Our circle might have a bad image to some, but in our own little world, we’re just being ourselves—individuals with our own judgments, opinions, and perspectives. I am proud to be part of this circle. We are a bunch of academic achievers who never forget to be human and to celebrate differences. We respect others, but during open forums, our circle has always been the “black sheep of the class.” And honestly, I’m happy about that.
In a world where blending in is often the norm, we are proud to be the so-called black sheep who found belonging in our own unique way. Despite the negativity thrown at us, we just laugh and shrug it off, because what truly matters is that we respect others and remain true to ourselves.
