The most obvious way a person is regarded as an individual is if they are different in some way. One of the definitions of 'individual' in the Macquarie Dictionary states: distinguished by peculiar and marked chracteristics. Their appearance may be unusual and this causes people in the mainstream to think of them as slightly weird and therefore, an individual. In the novel, 'Stargirl', by Jerry Spinelli, the main character is regarded by her peers as an individual. The first thing people notice about Stargirl is the way she dresses. She goes to school wearing different types of clothes everyday, all regarded as weird and inappropriate by the other kids. She was home schooled by her mother until the age of sixteen, when, on her first day at school she wore a gown that looked like an old fashioned wedding dress. She often wore long skrts and frilly period -type blouses to school, and even went to a school football game dressed in a long lemon dress. Immediately the other students formed an opinion of her based on her appearance, however, Stargirl also did things differently to other students, like laying a formal tablecloth on her desk in class and putting a vase with a flower on it. She would play her ukelele at lunchtime and was very devoted to her pet rat, which she took everywhere she went.

Interestingly, although these things annoyed the other students, Stargirl continued to do them. Even her name was different. Her real name was Susan, but she changed her name regularly, and the names she chose were highly unusual, like 'Pocket Mouse', 'Mudpie' and eventually, 'Stargirl'. Stargirl made no attempt to modify her appearance or behaviour to suit others. Even when she was being teased and treated badly, she did not change because the opinion of others was not important to her. She was obviously very secure and comfortable with the way she was. However, when her boy friend, Leo, asks her to change so that she can be accepted, she does try to dress and behave normally - she only does this as a favour to him, not because she yearns to be accepted. She realises that he wants her to conform so that the others will accept his relationship with her. She keeps up the pretence of being like every one else, but realises that she is still not truly accepted by 'them' (this is what she calls everbody in the normal world). She is uncomfortable acting as an ordinary teenager and reverts to her original dress and behaviour.

Stargirl is also incredibly kind-hearted. She gives gifts anonymously to people she often does not even know. She ensures the gifts are always appropriate by finding out the interests of the recipients. She even attends funerals and weddings of people she does not know. Often her kindness is misinterpreted, for example, at a funeral she attended the other mourners got angry with her and asked her to leave. She was at the funeral to genuinely mourn the person's passing, her intentions were good. It is interesting to note that people avoid Stargirl because of her individuality, and as a result, they would never know this aspect of her personality. Society tends to ignore what it does not understand. Stargirl's story shows us that we could be missing out on much by avoiding anyone different. Many of her peers would have benefitted from her kindness if only they had been able to look past her unusual qualities.

The story of Stargirl is an interesting study in individuality. Why was she so different? Stargirl comes from a normal, loving family. She has no physical or intellectual disabilities. She is not living differently to any other girl her age. Yet, she is undeniably different. She is certainly self-confident and comfortable with the way she is. It is possible that her individuality is a result of being home schooled until age sixteen. She had grown up without ever being part of a group-she had never been part of a class, a team, or even a group of friends. She never had to conform, and her loving family always gave her the freedom to express her individuality. She grew into a happy, confident, intelligent and kind girl, possibly a little naïve. The only problem is that she was not accepted by her peers. They may have felt threatened by her individuality. Stargirl never worried about how she was perceived by others because she was so comfortable with who she was. It is difficult to know whether she would have been the same person if she had grown up with more exposure to the group mentality that exists in our society. However, I believe she would have been the same individual no matter what her circumstances. I agree with Archie, the wise paleoentologist, who says of Stargirl, after she is described as being of a different species:
'She is one of us. Most decidedly. She is us more than we are us. She is, I think, who we really are. Or were.'