In-Betweeners

by Brian Ritchie

June 17, 2026

One of the finest films in history is The Breakfast Club. I’m sure, there are doubters out there, and I recognize that its a bold statement. But I would ask that you consider the exquisitely simple plot; think about how cleverly the whole story took place in a singular setting; and reflect on how much they did with such a small cast. Throw in a few props like a lipstick, a purse, and a piece of paper—masterpiece.

But it was so much more than the sum of its parts—it was a reflection of an entire generation. And, it presented the teenage universe as we understood it. We had the Popular Kids, Sportos, Nerds, Weirdos, and Burnouts. That was all of us.

Or was it?

Don’t get me wrong, it was still a great movie, and it did a remarkable job capturing five of the most recognizable species roaming the halls of an 80s high school. Those people absolutely existed. That wasn’t the problem.

The problem was that it left out a whole class of kids.

Naturally, the category they overlooked was mine. But before I tell you all about us, let’s take a closer look at the primary breeds featured in the movie:

1. Popular - these were the good-looking kids. In the 80s, they wore preppy clothes with popped collars, big shoulder pads, and stirrup pants. Their lockers had the latest Trapper Keeper, a stack of Seventeen magazines, and either a poster of Rick Springfield or Phoebe Cates. They drove a Mustang, a TransAm, or a BMW 3 Series to school. Indulgences included smoking, drinking, and promiscuity. Yes, we all knew who you were. In the halls, the popular kids could be spotted associating with Sportos, but seldom with nerds, weirdos, or burnouts.

2. Sporto - these were our athletes. The boys' attire was mainly Letterman jackets, t-shirts, and jeans, while the girls were adorned in polo shirts tucked into high-waisted 501s, Converse All Stars, and ponytails secured with a scrunchie. Sportos also had internal subclasses only they cared about, which helped them manage rank within the phylum. At the top was Football, then basketball, and on down the line until you reached golf. Their lockers smelled of body odor and Nair, and were decorated with a poster of Emilio Estevez (both boys and girls). They caught rides with the popular kids. Bad habits included chewing tobacco, grain alcohol, the opposite gender, and bullying. Like the popular kids, we all knew who you were and cheered for you, but only when you competed, and never when you slammed one of us into a locker. Sportos hung out with the popular kids and beat up everyone but the burnouts—well, the golfers didn’t.

3. Nerd - often associated with smart kids but included bandos, kids who played D&D past middle school, and shy kids. Nerds usually came packaged in button-down dress shirts or Peter Pan collared blouses, practical glasses, high-waisted pants, and loafers. Their lockers had more books than the rest of us, at least one beaker, and a poster of the moon, Luke Skywalker, or a dragon. They drove their mother’s Pinto or Vega station wagon. Bad habits included studying, and apologizing. Unlike our earlier groups, we didn’t know who you were until later in life, when we showed up at a job interview, and you refused to hire us. Nerds could be seen in the company of their parents, their sister, and the occasional weirdo.

4. Weirdo - sometimes confused with nerds, these capricious hall dwellers were the punk rockers, goth, quirky, introverted, and withdrawn kids. Their fashion-backward style could have ranged from Vans to all-black. Their lockers contained the little piece of paper on which the combination had been written at the beginning of the year. They drove a black AMC Gremlin or a grey Dodge Dart. Vices = all of them. We knew who you were, but not your name, though we universally believed you had the best taste in music. Fringe weirdos hung out with some classifications of nerds and the beta burnouts.

5. Burnout - associated mainly with drug-culture hippies of the 70s, these kids capitalized on the fact that everyone was afraid of them. The dress for both boys and girls was typically army jackets, death-metal T-shirts, jeans, and army boots. In their lockers—which were raided weekly—you might find a U.S. history book checked out in 5th grade, rolling papers (for tobacco use only, please), a stack of Black Sabbath cassettes, and a poster of Ozzy with a fruit bat clutched in one hand. They would cruise into the school parking lot in a rusty Ford LTD or Chevy Caprice. They indulged in light drugs, medium drugs, and ‘let's go for a ride on Pete’s Dragon’ drugs. Burnouts could be seen making deals with anyone who needed a fix.

As I mentioned, and with all due respect to John Hughes, his profoundly entertaining movie was missing my breed. Maybe it was because we weren’t as entertaining or couldn’t be pigeon-holed with precise qualities, or perhaps we weren’t the type to end up in detention. For whatever reason, in-betweeners were left out, and I aim to rectify that. Here is what we were:

In-betweener - these were the mixed-breed kids. They were a kind of catch-all category for those who couldn’t cut it in one group or didn’t feel the need to fit specifically into a singular category. We wore what we wanted, including IZod shirts, Vans, jeans, or anything from Contempo Casual, Sears, or The Limited. Most of us were underachievers, happy with a C - or even a D. Our lockers had stuff we needed for class. Most of us walked to school or bummed a ride from a friend in another group. We had little willpower in social settings and caved to peer pressure. We could be seen with anyone, because we liked just about everyone.

Thoughts

As self-righteous as that may sound, I can assure you that my high school version hated existing on the fringe and longed to be recognized for something. I tried band but played third chair. I was on the soccer team but rode the bench. I wasn’t smart, strong, good-looking, confident, or talented. I was a shadow.

I know now, that God, in his penetrating wisdom, planted me, as he does all of us, precisely where we have the best chance to grow toward the Son. We must, of our own volition, push roots down into whatever our soil is and bend toward the light. The Son is there. He shines every day.

Intelligence, creativity, strength, speed, insight, beauty, wisdom, helpfulness, sacrifice, charm, or whatever best describes what you have going for you, know that you are uniquely designed. The most important thing is to recognize who you are doing it for. There are only two choices—the world or the One who created you.

Psalm 146:3-5 says, “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day, their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.”

The world cares little about you and wants only what you produce. God, on the other hand, cares little about what you produce but wants only you.

So, let's begin today by doing everything for God, and not worry about whether the world is happy with us. Take to heart Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

And that, friends, is how we keep it bright and hopeful.

Pray

Holy Father,

I am all too susceptible to loving compliments. It moves me toward self-congratulation.

I love good attention.

I long to hear my name called.

But, it never satisfies, because the only praise the deep part of me truly desires is a ‘Well done,’ from my Lord.

Help me today, by the power of your Spirit, to remember you, my Father, in every word and action. Remind me that my accomplishments are meant for the good of your Kingdom alone.

In Jesus' name,

Amen

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Going Deeper

1. In what ways do I still find myself seeking approval from “the world” instead of resting in who God has uniquely created me to be?

2. How can I shift my daily focus from what I produce for others to simply offering myself fully to God?

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