Problem: Article: Don't be in other peoples' shadows. If you want to get noticed, then you can't be known as the wallflower who hangs back at school dances or the girl who says nothing in class. You have to be known for your positive energy, your laughter, and your optimistic nature. You should be enjoying yourself, whether you're at the playground with your friends or learning about American history in class. You don't have to fake it, but you should work on being the kind of person who is able to find something to be happy about in almost any environment.  Okay, so you probably won't be cracking up in the middle of a science test. However, you should try to be as upbeat as you can, and to make other people want to be around you because of your positive energy. If you tend to be negative or whiny, people will be less inclined to hang out with you. This doesn't mean that you should be fake or that you should pretend you're happy when you're really not. It does mean that you should work to think positively by pushing out those negative feelings, and to project your best self to the world. Everyone has bad days, and you don't have to force yourself to be chipper if you're feeling sad, but you should try to have more good days than bad. You probably won't be made more popular if you're known as the girl who spilled soda all over herself — though hey, that happens. But if you're known for always having ridiculously cute shoes, having a unique laugh, making loom bracelets at recess, or being able to talk to almost anybody, then people will notice you more often. You don't have to dye your hair pink or wear fake tattoos to get noticed; whatever you do has to be more subtle and less attention-calling than that. It's up to you to decide what you want your trademark to be. It can be that people always see you walking your cute dog on the weekends. Really, it can be anything positive that makes you stand out more. If you're known for having a talent or a skill, such as having a great signing voice, being the best kickball player in your grade, or being really good at Spanish, then more people will know who you are and will respect you for it. You don't have to show off or to try to be the best at every little thing. In fact, it's far better if you're really, really good at one thing so that it makes you stand out. Pick something you care about and try to master it; soon, people will notice you for it.  Also, being really good at something can help you build up your confidence, because you'll feel like you have more to offer. It's a win-win situation. If you work on mastering something that is a group effort, such as playing soccer or being in the school play, then this will also be a great way for you to get to know more people and to become more popular that way. Another way to get noticed is to build up your self-confidence. Though it's not always easy to feel confident about yourself, especially when you're in the fifth grade and feel a little bit uncertain about everything, but you can make an effort to like and be proud of the person you are and the person you're becoming. You can do this by hanging out with people who make you feel good, trying to excel in school and getting help if you need it, and by talking to people about the things you love. If your friends are being bullied, stand up to the bully. If you have confidence, people will notice it — and you — from a mile away. If you're feeling insecure, it's perfectly okay. Talk to a friend about it and think about ways that you can improve yourself, from getting better at talking to new people, to succeeding in school. Making an effort is the first step. You may not always feel confident, but looking confident can be half the battle. If you want people to notice you for being confident, then you have to make sure that your body reflects this. Your body language can do a lot of work for you, whether you're just walking down the halls or hanging out with friends. Plus, if your body language is more confident, it will trick you into feeling more confident, and that never hurt anybody. Here are some tricks to try if you want to have more confident body language:  Make eye contact when you talk to people Stand tall instead of slouching Have good posture, even when you're sitting Don't cross your arms over your chest Look straight ahead when you're walking, instead of down at the ground Turn toward people when you talk to them, instead of away You don't have to look like a hair model to take good care of yourself. However, it's important to take care of your looks so that other people notice that you're treating yourself with respect. If you don't care at all how you look and leave the house looking sloppy, people will think you don't value yourself very much. This isn't about looking fake or like a celebrity — it's just about feeling like you're worth it enough to care for your looks. Here's what you should do:  Wash your hair every day or every other day, depending on your hair type Brush your teeth every morning Shower daily Brush your hair before school You don't need to keep up with the latest trends or to wear what all the cool kids are wearing to be popular. In fact, if you try to do that and end up wearing something that isn't you, then it won't look right. You can shop at trendy stores like Hollister, American Eagle, Justice, Delia's, or Forever 21 if that's what you like, fashion-wise, but only if it feels genuine to you. The more important thing is that your clothes are clean, fit well, and make you feel good. You can also get some matching accessories, such as necklaces or hats, to go with your look. But you don't have to overdo it.
Summary: Let everyone see you having a great time. Stand out — in a good way. Be great at something. Build up your confidence. Have confident body language. Maintain good hygiene. Wear clothes that make you feel good.

Problem: Article: Wrap the tape close to the knuckle. This is the thickest part of your finger, and your ring will need to slide over it comfortably. After all, taking on and off your ring shouldn’t be painful! Choose a cloth or plastic measuring tape for a more accurate measurement. You can try a metal measuring tape, but it’ll be a lot harder to wrap around your finger, and could cause injury.  For an even easier measurement, check out different jeweler's websites for printable ring sizers. You can use these much like a tape measure, only the ring sizes are visible on the ruler itself, which means you don’t have to convert the measurements.  Don’t wrap the paper too tightly. Aim for a snug but comfortable fit. Here’s a fun fact: Even the same fingers on different hands are different sizes. Make sure to use the exact finger that will wear the ring. For an engagement ring, you should be sizing your left ring finger, not your right.  The size of your fingers tends to change throughout the day. Weird, right? For best results, measure at the end of the day. Do this on a separate piece of paper with a pen or pencil. You can record the measurement in inches or millimeters, depending on the retailer. Many will have both measurements available, but a European retailer might only have measurements in millimeters. If you're using a printed ring sizer, mark the point where it overlaps directly on the ruler itself. Now that you’ve got the numbers, it’s time to find your size. You can find these charts at many online jewelry retailers. If you want, you can print the chart for easy reference, but it isn't necessary. These charts convert measurements into ring sizes; for instance, 2.34” (59.5mm) would be a size 9.  If your measurement falls between two sizes, go for the largest size.  If you’re using a printed ring sizer, check where you marked the overlap to figure out your size.
Summary:
Wrap flexible measuring tape around your finger. Record the measurement where the tape overlaps. Compare the measurement to a sizing chart.