When does reputation lie?

Consider two stories: the first, about a boy who gets all the attention. He's the cool kid in class who comes from a well-known family. He seems to soar through life. When he errs, few seem to care. The more popular he is, the more beloved he becomes. The second: a girl who can't thrive. She tries and tries, to no avail. She's smart and kind, but she has few friends. The more she's shunned, the more discouraged she becomes.