Do what you have to do to get away from the drama. That crap is not real life. I used to think high school was "preparation for the real world," but now that I'm in the real world, I have a much broader perspective. People just don't act like that out here.

There are some college freshmen who try, who haven't given up their old ways when they arrive at the university, but it doesn't last very long. We realize that we're adults now, and high-school drama is immature and stupid.

Of course, these are just my observations pooled from my experience at my little college. Your mileage may vary. I'll just say that I hate high-school drama with a passion. It's ugly, pointless, cruel, childish, and just a tremendous waste of energy and time. It's the mark of teenagers who don't know how to cope with all their newfound emotions and don't know how to coexist with other people. The worst thing you can do is take sides.

This is what I've done in the past... Go to your friends who are wrapped up in this, and speak with them alone, individually. Explain, in no uncertain terms, that you DO NOT participate in drama, and that you WILL NOT sacrifice friendships for taking sides in the matter. Make it clear that you are committed to preserving your friendship above everything else, so they know you're in it for the long haul. My friends, even if they didn't agree, respected me for it. And when the whole backstabbing thing was over, my relationships were intact. Stronger, even.

But personally, as much as I loved high school, I should add that my best relationships were in college. Of course, I'm a very present- and future-oriented person, and I try never to linger on old memories when there are still new ones to be made. I expect I'll have more great friendships further down the road. So don't despair. It's not the end of the world, by any stretch of the imagination. Chin up, graduation's coming.