Why do some students pressure other students and why are some students easy targets?

Peer pressure is defined as influence from members of one’s peer group.
For students, it can come from their friends and also from online.

The high school years can be a big part of shaping the person you are going to become. School is a place to get an education, but it can also be where students learn to be a good friend. At any one time, students can be happy, angry, sad, jealous, isolated, or stressed. This is also a time where peer pressure is most common.

At Englewood, students know peer pressure is a very real thing. In the halls, students encourage others to skip classes, drink alcohol, smoke or attend parties.

According to school counselors, peer pressure in high school is both harmful and effective because it can lead to teen depression, high-stress levels, negative behavior issues, and poor decision-making and outcomes.

Some students say it is all in how you handle peer pressure, “Walking away and ignoring them,” says Osvaldo Rascon (9) is the best solution. He says you can always say no, “because you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.” Rascon says he has been the victim of peer pressure, “yes a couple times getting peer pressured to drink.” He says peer pressure is a common thing here at EHS, “yes, it happens in every school.”

Maryhelen Friesen, the athletic secretary, says peer pressure doesn’t always affect only students, “I don’t necessarily think it only affects students. I think its universal.” She says it happens everywhere. She thinks students pressure each other for a few reasons, “To retain friends even though that’s wrong and to look cool.”

According to a recent article, written for an education based website called www.education.media, it’s important to choose to have positive people around you. It can make most peer pressure experiences positive rather than negative. This can also turn into good habits that can make other students want to follow you. It all depends on your own dedication and decisions.