Is high school really that bad if you aren't popular?

I'm in eigth grade now and I have a lot of friends and I'm kind of popular and everything's fine now, but...I'm going to St. Raphael high school next year, and I've shadowed and gone to the events and everyone seems really nice and open... but I was talking to a guy friend (technically an ex, he's not really a friend, this is the second time we've talkied since the breakup) who's already in high school, and he says it sucks if you aren't popular.. (but he says he's popular so he likes it)... but is that true?