6
Column
Opinion
December 2015
Coping with high school peer pressure
Sitting in my middle school
classroom, I thought they were
lying when the teachers told my
classmates and I that peer pressure
was a problem in high school. So,
I brushed it off and didn’t listen
to the advice they gave us. I had
to learn as I
went.
Peer pressure is honestly a big problem in high
school, and
some Fremont
High School
students don’t
MacKenzie Meyer even
realize
they are experiencing it.
Peer pressure can come in
many forms. Sometimes, it’s small
peer pressure. For example: asking someone if you could copy
their homework, and when they
MacKenzie Meyer
Fremont High School
Newspaper Column Writing
The Rustler
December 2015
say no, you add a comment to
them saying it’s not a huge deal.
Students don’t think about all of
the small peer pressure that takes
place daily at school.
I think the most common form
of peer pressure would have to
be drinking and drug usage. The
phrase “just one sip,” is even considered peer pressure. I feel like
most kids give into peer pressure
because that’s the “cool” thing to
do, not realizing that it’s the worst
thing they could do to themselves.
“Just say no, and walk away,” is
something my mom has drilled
into my head since elementary
school (when it comes to peer
pressure), but I do realize that it is
easier said than done.
When you’re being pressured
to do something, you instantly
think about what the circumstance may be, who is around you,
and not necessarily the lessons
your parents have told you. But,
you should.
Now, we all know that peer
pressure is a bad thing, but separating yourself from it isn’t as hard
as you may think. Here’s how it
can be done.
First, think about who is dealing out the pressure. They most
likely aren’t your real friends. So,
that should help you eliminate it.
Surround yourself with people
who respect your choices.
Second, doing positive things
can help you stay focused and not
weak to peer pressure. Set goals
and realize that if you make one
bad choice, your goals could be
taken from you.
Third, teachers can help you
to remove some peer pressure
in school. If someone in class always copies your homework, and
you can’t say no to them, ask the
teacher if you could move seats.
You are the only one who controls your actions, so you have total responsibility for your actions.
My advice: don’t let bad peer
pressure enter into your decision
making process.
Along with bad and harmful
peer pressure, there is also positive peer pressure. When you and
your friend want to do something
you’re not allowed to do, and they
voice their opinion and you end
up making the better choice, that
is positive peer pressure.
Another example of positive
peer pressure might sound something like this: your friend wants
to ring bells for the Salvation
Army, but doesn’t want to do it
alone. She begs-and-begs for you
to go with her, so instead of going
to a party, you go with her. Your
friend was using positive peer
pressure to overcome negative
peer pressure.
I don’t see positive peer pressure as often as I see negative peer
pressure, but it is really important
to know the difference and understand that you control your life,
not anyone else.