Peer Pressure
Peer pressure has been a huge issue among teens for decades, but recently it seems to be getting worse. Peer pressure is pressure from members of a person’s friend group. 7 out of 10 people report being influenced by their peers to do something that they didn’t want to do.
“ Yes, I have seen students experience peer pressure, I can see the anxiety that they feel when they’re being pressured by their peers,” said Mrs.Ochoa.
She also stated how even as an adult peer pressure is still quite prevalent.
“ Growing up, and not just growing up, but in the military and throughout my entire life there’s always been peer pressure, you have to look at whether it’s positive or negative. When I was in high school I was pressured to start smoking and things like that.Then it really came down to whether or not I wanted to go with what they were recommending,” said Sergeant Randall.
However, nagging your peers can also be positive as Randall stated.
“ I’ve had peers of mine pressure me into going to an event that they believed would help me,” said Randall.
Peer pressure has two sides, but most people still think it’s dangerous.
“I think it’s best if students just didn’t pressure each other, it can be dangerous because it can lead to activities that the student isn’t comfortable with,” said Ochoa.
The only thing we can do to protect ourselves and our peers from this is simply not pressuring each other, stand up for each other and not give in.
Faith Harvey is a freshman at Ripon High and this is her first year apart of the Smoke Signal. She wishes to better her writing and improve her photography...