Peer Pressure is Everywhere

Peer pressure is often a topic a lot of people forget about because some don’t realize that it’s happening all around them. Peer pressure often hits students in high school because they are exposed to new things and new people. A lot of kids say yes to peer pressure because they just want to fit in with the other kids. A student can get themselves in a mess that can affect their lives terribly. Colleges look at everything and if they see that a student gets caught smoking, drinking, or having drugs at school, a lot of colleges are not going to want to have such a student at their school. “ Kids can be pressured into something that could affect their lives tremendously,” said Effion Boykins. In high school students are around a lot of other students that have different opinions on what they are ready or open to try, but they shouldn’t take anyone else down that road with them if they are not ready for it. Things like that can stay with them for the rest of their life especially if they eventually get in trouble with the law. Students shouldn’t follow others if it's only going to lead them down the wrong path. There's always a shy, quiet student that gets themselves involved with the wrong people because they want to make new friends and they end up getting in trouble more, not doing what they are suppose to do because the kids are making them smoke or drink. Students should focus more on their school work, activities, and their relationships with the friends that won’t lead them down the wrong path. They should find friends, peers, or even adults that they can talk to about what other peers have been asking them what they should do. If the students don’t want to do it then no one should push them to do it.

Self-confidence and self-worth are two great qualities to have as a student, so they are ready for these challenges they will be faced with and how to act in certain situations. They will also know that they don’t have to do what everyone else is doing to fit in. “Be true to yourself,” said Boykins.