We all have heard a rumor sometime throughout our life. Rumors may consist of anything starting with false information on a person to an event or even an object. This false information usually first comes about when an individual attempts to make sense of an unknown situation. The information is misconstrued and altered from its original form, starting with one person spreading off to many others (with information changing slightly from person to person like a game of telephone).

Some reasons why rumors pop up in the first place are to make the person who creates one to feel better, make them fit in, gain attention, take revenge, pass time, or improve their current social ranking.

If you are faced with a rumor, the correct actions to take are acting confident (discouraging others), communicating with others, evaluating your behavior (making sure you do not overreact), focusing on positive thinking, setting positive examples, and clarifying your position using facts to back it up.

Rumors can affect the personal lives of many: reducing confidence, lowering self-esteem, inhibiting performance, and leading to isolation.

Some ways not to handle a rumor you should avoid at all costs include: showing frustration, staying quiet (and ignoring the situation at hand), taking revenge, hiding it from adults and friends, and believing that what you hear is completely true.

Rumors shall still continue throughout the rest of your school career, college, and life thereafter. They will never stop coming about. Whenever faced with a rumor, you should follow these tips. Most rumors can be easily defeated starting with the source, and saving the private lives of those personally affected by rumors. Never believe that whatever you hear is completely true, and never spread uncertain information about others without backing up what you heard with facts and evidence.