Being accepted by others isn't an essential basic need, but being accepted by others does get you friends. It does kind of matter if people accept me, but for different reasons. I have many friends as life is right now. They are people that care about others, they're kind and are there when you need them.

But there are some people that I know who don't care for others and think they can do anything they want in the world. They are people that will talk behind your back or will find/do anything they can to hurt you. These are the type of people that I would rather not accept me, but the people with a nice, kind and gentle heart are who I want to accept me for who I am. Friends are the people in my life that mean everything in the world to me, they have my back, and I have theirs.

Others take people in by looks! I have a question for them: Who would do anything like that?

Makenzie Hauger

Auburn

Hauger, 12, submitted this letter after writing it for school when her teacher asked her class to write a journal entry on: “Is being accepted by others as essential basic need? Does it matter to you if others accept you? Explain why or why not.”