C’mon-Everybody’s Doing It!

April 11, 2008 at 3:59 am (Peer Pressure)
Tags: , , , , ,

    How many times have you heard, Everybody’s doing it?” If everybody’s doing it, does that mean you have to do it too? Of course it does! At least that’s what your friends want you to think. 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 basketball or run track? 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.   Peer pressure is not always a bad thing. Your peers can actually influence you in positive ways, but in most cases they don’t. Your peers influence your life even if you don’t realize it. You learn from them and they learn from you. It’s only natural to listen to other people in your age group; but how do you walk away from the negative influence and still be liked by your peers? It’s not easy, but you can do it. Rely on your own feelings and beliefs about what is right and wrong. Don’t be afraid to stand for what you believe. Courage and self-confidence can help you stand firm, walk away, and resist doing something you’ll probably regret later. It is very important to choose your friends wisely. If you choose friends who don’t use drugs, cut class, smoke cigarettes, or lie to their parents, then you probably won’t do these things either, even if other kids do.   If you’re having trouble dealing with peer pressure, talk to someone you trust. Don’t be afraid to share what you’re feeling; (Even if you’re tempted to give in or have already given in) chances are they’ve experienced peer pressure as well and may have even given in to it once or twice.   When faced with negative peer pressure take time to think about the long term effects of what you’re doing. Don’t let someone else decide your future and always remember that your actions not only affect you; they affect your family and friends as well.   So be strong and stand firm. Saying NO does not make you weak. In fact, it makes you strong.
In HIS Service
Shirley Hubbard
Butterflies for Jesus Youth Ministries

Post a Comment