PEER PRESSURE

As hundreds of kids enter middle and high school each year, almost every one of them is negatively influenced academically by peer pressure. Teens can feel pressured into following the crowd and becoming just like others in order to be accepted. Statistics show that many teens would rather surrender to peer pressure than looked down upon by other schoolmates. Peer pressure can come in many forms such as drinking, drugs, and stealing amongst other things, putting their health or reputation on the line. Giving in to pressure is mostly caused by lack of confidence or isolation, or simply the result of bullying or even having parents that are not strict enough. Naturally teens feel that social acceptance must have some catch to it, which causes them to engage in risky behaviors. Many often fall into the wrong crowd and change their personality just to fit in with others, while others risk themselves under the impression they will make friends only to be ridiculed. The main purpose of going to school is to get a proper education so that in the future one will succeed. But what is school life without having friends to endure the ups and downs with you? With this in mind many teens look for people around them that are similar to them in one way or another, while others look for ways to gain social status and become someone. Either way all are at risk of making poor decisions based on persuasion from their friends. The negative effects are most commonly referred to because as adolescents most of their time is spent with those outside of their immediate family. In any school you will find students that generally dont care about their academic performance. In most cases these are the popular students. Students who are socially lower than others strive to reach a certain level of acceptance start cutting classes or stop doing work thinking it will give them more time to prove they can be cool. One of the most common situations of peer pressure is teen drinking. During the four years of high school many students go to parties where drinking is basically a social norm and all partygoers are expected to engage in the festivities. Whether or not they know the consequences of the activity, the only thing running through their minds is will I be liked more if do this? Not thinking of how this will affect them later in life. Studies show that drinking early on in life can not only cause severe liver problems but also memory lapse and brain erosion. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to development of brain disorders such as

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS), which can lead to learning disabilities, which would be detrimental to students. Another situation that friends can influence one in is drugs/smoking. Sure you might refuse a cigarette or some other drug once or twice, but what if your friends keep persisting that you just try it once? Once becomes twice and then a few more times. Drugs like alcohol have harmful effects on the brain. Drugs tend to falsely activate neurotransmitters that cause exhilaration and other pleasurable feelings that may last for a short period of time; however they also leave behind long term effects that cause memory loss and irrational thinking. With all the ways that peer pressure can mess with the well being of teenagers, there are ways of preventing teens from surrendering. Researchers have seen that one of the most effective ways of preventing teens from feeling that they need to do what others think is acceptable is family support. Others ways that can prevent any type of rebellion by teens is setting up firm boundaries and having regular and open discussions with their children. According to researchers homes that have less rules and uninvolved parents are most vulnerable to falling victim to peer pressure. No matter how old they are people care what others think and want to fit in. When you are just starting to think for yourself, the influence of your friends and people your age Your peers can be powerful. It can affect how you feel ,dress, and act. This is called peer pressure. Peer pressure can be good and bad. Good pressure from your peers might lead you to play sports, study hard, or join clubs. But there are often negative pressures, too to make fun of someone, to tell a lie, or to cheat on a test. Sometimes the pressure may be about actions that have more serious results like skipping school, shoplifting, using alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. *REMEMBER* Make up your own mind, even if your peers dont agre e with you. Respect your friends choices, even if you dont agree with them! It is important to think about what could happen if everyone just goes along with the crowd

without thinking about their CHOICES. Young people make choices every day. Some are more important than others .There is a big difference between deciding what to wear to a party and deciding whether or not to do drugs. The choices you make say a lot about what kind of person you are. When you feel unsure, try talking to someone you trust: your parents, another adult who cares, or maybe a close friend you respect. *REMEMBER* YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS Its okay to say NO Some decisions, like those about drinking, drugs or sex, are difficult to make and have serious consequences. Be prepared to feel peer pressure and be aware that there are different kinds of pressure. It can be disguised as friendly teasing, for example. If so, you can respond in the same way. Other pressure may be more direct. Plan to say NO if yo u think you might be tempted by peer pressure. Saying NO is not always easy. Saying NO to friends is especially hard, because you dont want to lose their friendship. Its important to remember that you are in control of your choices. You do not have to explain your reason.Try these ways to say NO: change the subject, avoid the situation, have something else to do, leave, or make it clear that you dont have to go along with other people. PEER PRESSURE

If you have to say NO more firmly, here are some ways to keep in mind: >No! No way! >Im not ready for that yet.

>Thats not for me. >Its not my style. >Whats your problem ? >Are you kid ding? Youve got to be kidding! >No thanks. >Sorry, Im driving. >Your parents would ground you for the rest of your life! >I dont do drugs. >I have to get up early for work. Show your friends you have a mind of your own. When your peers see you stand by your good decisions, it may help them make better decisions in the future. Sometimes its easier to say NO if you are involved with other people who think like you. Many schools offer PEER SUPPORT programs where students who believe in resisting negative peer pressure offer each other support and information. Find out if there are PEER SUPPORTERS in your school. Its okay to say YES Its also okay to say YES to many activities in your life. You should enjoy your time as a young adult! Say YES to: Positive friendships Volunteering Family relationships Setting goals School and religious activities