Admitting you like something “uncool” in front of your friends is a small freedom. Get used to it early.

Hiding a taste costs more than it seems to, because you have to keep track of what you have pretended about and around whom. Liking things openly removes that job. The odd part is that the reveal usually lands flat: one person says they like it too, somebody teases you for a minute, and then it is over.

Say the true thing once this week, about a song, a show, a hobby, a book. Do not oversell it or apologise for it, just put it down and move on. Keep an eye on who makes it uncomfortable, because that tells you something useful.