A reader points to a "Today" show segment titled "Who's ‘cool’ after graduating from high school?" It's accompanied by some passages from a new book:
Geek, nerd, loser – these are labels that can be found in every high school in America. In "The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth," Alexandra Robbins looks at why some kids fit in and some kids don't, only to find that the kids most often on the outs at school may be the most successful after they graduate.
Another writes:
In high school I was friends with Terry Miller and can attest firsthand to the environment he describes in the original "It Gets Better" video.
Though I'm straight, several of my close friends in high school were gay and I feel very fortunate for how they helped me understand and accept myself. I remember all these terrific times when Terry came over to my Mom's house with a bevy of 12" remixes to sing and dance to; where he made helpful suggestions on my wardrobe and generally inspired me to feel like it was okay to be my authentic self – no matter how eccentric or colorful. He made celebrating life a literal expression, through engagement and creativity, with humor and savoir faire.
As Terry was suffering terribly through his high school years, he was helping me get through mine.
The Dish 