Cliques (Are You an Individual?)

I never quite understood the idea of cliques in the workplace, church, organizations, yet alone as a grown man or woman, over the age of adolescence. For those that may not know, a clique is a group of people that MUST stand by each other no matter the cost, good or bad, through thick or thin. They ALL either love you or hate you and they most definitely can't be seen in public without the others.
It's different from a fraternity or a sorority in that; there's no financial obligations, community service, programs or policies in place. There's no intended goal, except to feel "wanted" or in the supposed "in" crowd or quite possibly like someone "has your back".
It's also different than just gravitating towards like-minded people! I'm not ousting any one and their friendships! It's not about being "friends" and even associates...No; this blog is strictly and strategically about individuals that are DEPENDENT upon their said "friends" for validation or justification.
Maybe in junior high, I'll even give you high school was it appropriate to have to 'call a friend' to make sure they'd be someplace in order for you to attend. Hey! It's quite possible you didn't have your own identity and were still seeking, indulging and molding it! But come on, in college, you were supposed to start exploring interests and taking classes or joining clubs, and networks to begin gratifying any and ever possibility you could so that (hopefully in a perfect world) once you'd graduate there would be a noticeable "personality" to you! You'd come into your OWN. Own mind, ideas, thoughts, goals, visions, desires!
30, 35, 40 and Lord help us all, certainly not over 45 should you STILL be seeking acceptance of others! Live your life. You shouldn't only go somewhere you're invited if, "you go too!" or as long as your friend is invited too, or you and your friend can ride together! It most definitely shouldn't be your concern who's on a guest list. Are you there?! Then, okay! Get up and go if you want, or don't go if you don't want; but for goodness sake don't rely on the opinion or "feeling" of someone else to get you there! *NEWSFLASH* we don't take our last breaths together and we're certainly not born together! Even twins have two separate times they're born*