Peer Pressure: The Courage it Takes to Fight

Jackie Hernandez, J1 Writer

Have you ever been pressured into doing something that you really did not want to do? Maybe at the time it made you look cool, but really you were just uncomfortable.

The people you choose to hang around with can sometimes cause stress in your life by putting you in a wrong situation that you do not want to be in. Peers may pressure you into doing something you’re uncomfortable with, such as shoplifting, doing drugs or drinking, taking dangerous risks when driving a car, etc. By the teenage years, peers are the most influential group as teenagers navigate life, struggling to find an identity and figure out the roles they want to play.

Giving into peer pressure can make you regret certain decisions; many people especially in high school and college probably experience peer pressure the most because this is the time period where people want to be reckless in order to have fun. Teenagers who choose the wrong peer groups can find themselves getting into a lot of trouble. Many young adults and teenagers drink under age to “fit in.” They usually say “C’mon just do it, C’mon, C’mon!” putting a person on the spot, looking lost and left hoping for the best.

Responding to peer pressure is part of human nature — but some people are more likely to give in, while others are better able to resist and stand their ground. People who are low on confidence, and those who tend to follow rather than lead, could be more likely to seek their peers’ approval by giving in to a risky challenge or suggestion. People who are unsure of themselves, new to the group, or inexperienced with peer pressure, may also be more likely to give in.

When asked if she had been peer pressured by anyone, Paint Branch junior Sandra Zacipa responded, “Yes, I have been pressured into taking my mom’s car without permission but I knew I had to say no because I know my mom would kill me.”

Some people realize the possible consequences if they did something they are not supposed to. Nearly everyone ends up in a sticky peer pressure situation at some point. When asked if he had been in a situation where a certain decision could cause very bad consequences, Paint Branch senior Semaje Wicker responded, “Yes, I have been pressured into a fight that I had no direct involvement with.”

No matter how wisely you choose your friends, or how well you think you know them, sooner or later you’ll have to make decisions that are difficult or unpopular. These situations can be opportunities to figure out what is right for you. There’s no magic to standing up to peer pressure, but it does take courage — yours.

It’s not always easy to resist negative peer pressure, but when you do, it is easy to feel good about it afterward. And you may even be a positive influence on your peers who feel the same way — often it just takes one person to speak out or take a different course of action to change a situation. Your friends may follow if you have the courage to do something different or refuse to go along with the group. Better to be different and stand up for what you want to do instead of making a decision that you will live to regret in the end.