Dealing with Peer Pressure

By: Amber George

          You are a new student at Lake Hamilton High School, a sophomore. You’re not so popular, but you are desperate to make friends. You are willing to do anything to make them. One day, one of the popular kids come up to you and asks you to go with them to Sonic instead of attending class. She says the only way you can be their friend is if you go. What do you do? Do you go with them and risk getting in trouble, or do you go to class?

          Making decisions on your own is hard enough, but when other people get involved and try to pressure you, it makes life difficult and could get you in trouble. People who are your age, like your classmates, are called peers. When they try to influence how you act, to get you to do something, it's called peer pressure. It can make High School difficult and very stressful.

            Peers influence your life, even if you don't realize it, just by spending time with you. You learn from them, and they learn from you. It's only human to listen and learn from other people in your age group.

            It may not seem like it, but at Lake Hamilton High, there are a lot of problems with peer pressure. Students are being influenced all around. If you look at all the different cliques, you can see that everyone in that clique acts some what like everyone else. This is caused by peer pressure. Without even realizing it you can be affected by peer pressure. It causes you to act different, and only others may realize this. The way students are influenced may not always be bad.

            There are two types of peer pressure; positive and negative. Peers can have a positive influence on each other. Maybe another student in your geology class taught you a nifty way to study for your upcoming test. You might admire a friend who is always a good student and try to be more like him/her. Maybe you got other students excited about your new favorite book, and now everyone's reading it. Those are examples of how peers positively influence each other every day.

            Sometimes peers influence each other in negative ways. For example, a student in your class may ask you to let them cheat off of your test or try to get you to cheat off them because you look like you’re struggling. I know it’s hard to say no, but in a negative situation it’s best to go with your gut.

            I’ve given into peer pressure before, and it has gotten me in so much trouble. For example, one time I was in Wal-Mart with some friends and they were all getting away with taking things. They told me they wouldn’t ever ask me to do anything that would get me in trouble, and I believed them. Well as soon as I stuck a stick of orange eyeliner in my pocket something grabbed my arm. I turned my head and there was a man about six feet tall grasping on to me. He made me put it back and thankfully let me off with a warning. Now I frown upon the people who take things or ask me to take things. I try to avoid negative peer pressure as much as possible. I understand it’s hard and I know that sometimes people can make it seem fun to do things you shouldn’t but in the long run saying no is the best way to go.

            Students give in to peer pressure because they want to be liked, to fit in, or because they worry that other students might make fun of them if they don't go along with the group. Others go along because they are curious to try something new that others are doing. The idea that "everyone is doing it" can influence some kids to leave their better judgment, or their common sense, behind.

            It's great to have friends with values similar to yours who will back you up when you don't want to do something. It can really help to have at least one other peer, or friend, who is willing to say no. Just think if all your friends where jumping off a cliff to sudden death would you? If so then good luck but if not congratulations you made the better choice.