You should never try to be someone you're not.
Fred is a pretty nerdy kid with few friends at school.
Fred wants to make some friends.
Fred is his normal self and doesn't try to fit in with any particular group.
Fred pretends he loves sports so that he fits in with some kids at school.
A small group of people who are nerdy like Fred take him in, and they become friends.
Fred is miserable because he can't do the things he likes, and he has to follow something he's not interested in.