As a young girl, while growing up in Junior High, if you show that you are too eager to be with boys, or even a certain boy, you will, sooner or later, be seen as "desperate". Come High School, reputation becomes more important (to girls) than looks. Imagine if you have a bad hair day, your next day you can still shine. But if you get a bad rep one day, your entire year can suffer. At least that's the case in High School (in Junior High your bad rep is forgotten the moment someone else becomes news).

Boys, by their very nature, are, and will always be, desperate creatures. This is a given. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the girl to make sure that this evolutionary process is maintained. That is, they cannot let show that they are "eager" to be with this boy, then that boy. And if a boy is able to come between to girl friends, they've turned the tables. This is not good for either girl. Only the most charming boys can pull this off, but it can be done. And these are the guys that you'll want to be with the most! Be very careful girls, because this can be the "life or death" of your reputation in High School (and yes, it begins in Junior High).

So, girls, in keeping with the tradition, and for the future of all girls, never let a guy see your eagerness to be with him. "Hard To Get" works like a charm, and is the single biggest advantage of girls over boys (and even women over men). Never let a guy come between you and your friends. Never, ever, let a guy feel as though they have the control over you; or, as sure as the sun came up this morning, they will take that control, and never give it back. Keep them guessing. Keep them eager to want you. Keep "them" desperate!

The way to accomplish this is by never letting a guy get the "Hard To Get" advantage over you. You must make him feel like you're self-sufficient and that you can live without him, while at the same time showing little signs here and there that you are interested. A boyfriend/girlfriend relationship will last much longer if you don't blurt out, "YES!" when he asks you to the next dance (and yes, he must ask "you") or asks if he can sit with you during lunch. Think

Remember, if you'd like to guarantee yourself a great reputation in High School, you have to show restraint in Junior High. Never let them see you sweat :) And never, ever let them see your desperation, no matter how desperate you really are! The girls that the (important) boys want most in High School are the girls that have restraint and dignity. Boys do not. These are the girls the geeks stay away from because they think, "She'd never like me." They're the girls the jocks say, I'll take her, and her, and her ... They're the girls that the intelligent, good looking boy knows, to get with her, he must also spend time with, and like to be with, her one or two not-so-good-looking friends.

The most important thing to remember, above all, is that a great looking guy won't necessarily take out the trash, show respect for you by opening the door for you, or get up in the middle of the night to feed the baby. So while you're gawking at that "Ashton Kutcher" look-alike, take a step back and see if he's also got some "Mekhi Phifer" in him. Great looks are second to reputation in High School. And while immaturity will show your age, it'll end up leaving you with only the geeks to choose from. Being mature makes for an awesome and long-lasting reputation with the guy who will take the time to make it past the "Hard To Get" routine. It'll get you that guy of your dreams!

Keith D Commiskey is the husband to a great wife, and step-dad to one great daughter turning teen. Keith does graphics and web design by day; and is a father, husband and entrepreneur by night. He established himself as a web and database developer beginning in 1995, and has layered those talents on top of his graphics and computer animation experience which he began 1991. Hi is the sole creator and owner of two sites with creative thoughts that just won't stop: http://www.giftsforyou.biz and http://www.kdcinfo.com