Peer
Pressure
He appears to be a loyal friend.
He never leaves our side.
He helps us meet new friends.
He makes us popular.
He shows us new ways to enjoy life.
He teaches us new hobbies.
He shows us how to look cool and how to act like an adult.
He makes us feel important.
When we're with him, we're never sad or depressed.
He teaches us how to get way with everything.
For a while, we're sure no one could replace him. He's the best friend we've
ever had.
After some time the fun wears off.
He's no longer great to be with.
He has changed our whole life, turned us agains our parents.
We're never with our family.
Our other friends have turned away because we are trying to be to them what he has been to us.
He seems to get us into so much trouble. We must always take the blame for messes
he gets us into. Instead of our best friend, he is now our worst enemy.
But by now, it's too late. Our wonderful friend has gotten us in the worst
mess of our life, and we cant get out. We regret the day we became friends with this master of disguises.
His name? PEER PRESSURE.
(Written
by Sgari Beardslee, high school junior Tuscola County.)
"Come on! ALL of us are cutting math. Who wants to go take that quiz? We're going to take a
walk and get lunch instead. Let's go!" says the coolest kid in your class. Do you do what you know is right and go to math
class, quiz and all? Or do you give in and go with them?
As you grow older, you'll be faced with some challenging decisions. Some don't have a clear
right or wrong answer - like should you play soccer or field hockey? Other decisions involve serious moral questions, like
whether to cut class, try cigarettes, or lie to your parents.
Making decisions on your own is hard enough, but when other people get involved and try to pressure
you one way or another it can be even harder. 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's something everyone has to deal
with - even adults. Let's talk about how to handle it.
(From http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/friend/peer_pressure.html because I felt like it)
How
to Handle Peer Pressure
1.
SAY NO
CHRIS: Do you want to try a drink of beer?
PAT: No that's okay thanks.
CHRIS: C'mon just try it.
PAT: No, I don't want to.
CHRIS:Okay.
2.
LEAVE
MIKE: Hey, lets smash out some windows Steve.
STEVE: No thanks.
MIKE: C'mon just a couple. Its
not big deal.
STEVE: I have to go now. (Leaves
the group)
3.
USE HUMOR
RON: John, do you want a cigarette?
JOHN: Oh hey I'd love to but I'm trying
to quit. I've been smoking those things since I was in kindergarden and I think I've almost kicked the habbit.
But hey, thanks anyway man.
4.
REVERSE THE PRESSURE
SARA: Kristen do you want some beer?
KRISTEN: No thanks.
SARA: What's wrong? Are you chicken? Little
Miss Goody Two Shoes.
KRISTEN: Why are you making fun of me Sara?
Why are you trying to Embarras me and make fun of me infront of everyone?
SARA: I don't know.
KRISTEN: If I don't want a drink, you should
just leave me alone.
5.
MAKE UP AN EXCUSE
DAVE: Hey, who wants to go to the mall
and rip off some C.D.'s?
JOE: Oh I don't know, what time is it?
DAVE: 4 o'clock.
JOE: I just remembered, I have to be home by
4:15 or my Mom is going to be mad. See you later.
6.
BROKEN RECORD
KEN: Do you want to smoke a joint?
SAM: I don't do drugs.
KEN: Just try it. It's not a big
deal.
SAM: I don't do drugs.
KEN: What are you, a wuss? Don't
be such a baby.
SAM: I don't do drugs.
KEN: Is that all you can say?
SAM: I don't do drugs.
This Peer Pressure Creation (the one below) was created
by Anymonous (we know this person who wishes to be unnamed). This person sent this in earlier this week.
Yasha: Hey, Jonie! Do you want
to come with me and do some pot?
Jonie: Well, I don't know. . .I don't
know if I can afford it. . .
Yasha: Well, I'll give it to you for
free!
Jonie: Well, one second, I just have
to get some books from my locker. Wait here.
Yasha: Ok, but hurry up.
(later at Jonies locker)
Nicole: And your going to go and do
pot?
Jonie: Well, maybe. . .its free after
all. . .
Nicole: It wont be free forever!
Eventually, Yasha's going to run out of money, and will want more pot. She's then going to come to you and ask for the
money for that pot your going to smoke.
Jonie: So I shouldn't do it?
Nicole: No!
(Yasha approaches)
Yasha: Hey Jonie! Whats taking
so long?
Jonie: I'm not sure I want to do this.
. .
Yasha: What? Oh, I see, you've been
talking to Nicole. She doesn't know anything. Shes to scared to get high.
Jonie: Yeah but. . .
Yasha: Look, if you don't want to do
it then fine. . .but who are your going to trust? Me, one of your closest friends, or Nicole, your locker buddy?
Nicole: You know whats right Jonie.
. .
Jonie: I. . .I. . .I'm not coming!
Yasha: Ok, suit yourself, but you'll
be sorry.
(Yasha walks away. Later, after Jonie and Nicole are finished getting their books, they walk outside to policemen taking
kids into cop cars. Yasha is one of them.)
Jonie: Excuse me officer, but can you
tell me whats going on here?
Officer: These kids were caught doing
Marijhwanan.
Jonie: Ok, thanks.
Nicole: I bet your happy that you didn't
do it eh?
Jonie: Yeah!
(And the two walk off together and leed nice happy lives
without pot.)
THE END
The moral of this story, is that the bad will always
want their moneys worth, and will always get caught.
