What is behind your smile?

If someone told me in high school, that there is a thin line between sweetness and insincerity, I wouldn't have wanted to believe it.

Sweetness, kindness, and empathy are noble virtues that I would've denied had anything in common with something as twofaced as insincerity.

But it's an idea that, after serious consideration, I admit carries some weight.

For insincerity is an acting game, a false front that people put up to pretend, often times that they care.

It's a smile, a nod, or an over enthusiastic agreement.

It's a hollow promise, a shallow conversation. a glittering personality that almost seems too good to be true.

And to those who are unaware, this showy façade is simply called "being nice."

No doubt insincerity is a skill, a skill that the majority of high school students have perfected.

Why? Because it's always safer to get along with people and tell them what they want to hear, even if we don't mean it.

In high school, we all want to fit in somewhere, so often times we'll hide what we really think, and who we really are just to keep everyone happy.

I've done it before, much as I hate to admit it.

I've nodded and smiled, to escape an awkward situ-ation or to earn people's respect.

And the truth is, often times, I don't realize I've done it until it's over.

But then, haven't we all?

But the point is, "acting" nice, is not the same as "being" nice. There is difference.

The line is fine, but it definitely exists.

Good people radiate a quiet confidence. They don't need to tell you that they help others, or that they love their friends. You just know it, because it shows.

Real nice people don't have an on and an off button, they consistently treat others like human beings worthy of respect, attention, and dignity, whether or not there is an audience to praise them for it.

True sweetness is not loud and flashy; although, it will get attention because it's a characteristic that's attractive.

In the same way, we know that there is a difference between being told that we are loved, and actually being loved.

It's a really difficult concept to put into words. this difference. It deals with the abstract, and the vague.

But I think it's important to talk about and recognize, because more and more it seems like there are a lot of people our age who want to give off the impression that they're happy and that they have everything under control, when they don't.

Listen, it's ok if you don't. Nobody does.

That's part of growing up, and that's part of life.

But it takes courage to step out from behind the sparkling personality and expose the vulnerable heart that just wants to be loved.

Anna Toth is a recent graduate of Burnett secondary and is in her first year at UBC.