Time and time again I always wondered. And it doesnt make any sense to me. Like I really do not understand some types of teenage behaviour. Peer pressure for instance. I cant imagine how people, especially teens are affected by this. Peer pressure and the whole ‘fitting in’ issue. (like what are you, a shoe size? oops the foot doesnt fit).
No, I really do not understand. Personally, I dont remember instances where peer pressure was stronger than my own views. I do remember when I didnt speak my mind, but its not like you speak out your mind every opportunity you get. There are places you have to stand for what you believe in and places where you have to just let it pass. Its not like I feared the ridicule of people around me if I expressed my opinions, it was more rather that I felt it was the choice of the person, not my problem. I wont say that it was the ‘right’ thing to do in some instances, but sometimes it was really someone’s growth process to learn and understand themselves by making mistakes.
Peer pressure, like I’ve witnessed it enough in school by my peers; I’ve seen people becoming who they are not in the pressure to be cool, people doing and acting things which just arent natural, and I do know the severity and consequences of wrong peer pressure.
Which comes to another point. Right peer pressure. I think I’ve been influenced by positive peer pressure, where somebody encouraged me to push myself, be a better person and try doing things I wouldn’t have thought of doing otherwise. Encouraging someone with comfort, confidence and strength, giving each other advice. Things which dont harm but help us to grow.
But negative peer pressure, like questionable partying, trying things like smoking, drugs or drinking, wearing clothes which defines who you are, saying things you dont mean and putting others down, I’ve seen these but I dont think I was pressured to behave in such a manner. And I have been to quite many new schools, changing houses, and meeting new people and new friends. So this is coming from someone who has seen different people, not from someone living in the same place all their life.
Just because other people do it doesnt mean you have to. Seriously, its like a chain reaction, when one person starts wearing short skirts (or something), others immediately start doing the same thing. Why do you have to copy? Trends. Just because some people have boyfriends/ girlfriends in high school, suddenly everyone must follow suit? I dont think so, it just doesnt work that way. Just because I dont want a cheap relationship ( because face it, most of the relationships in high school are temporary, and people start going out with others, kinda like exchanging each others partners after they’re done with them). I dont want to walk on the street thinking to myself, ‘ oh I used to date that guy at one time’ , or see random people that you are uncomfortable with, because face it, once you break up, it will get awkward.
But I do know that during teenage years, relationships and friendships really change, and so do people. People question and grow and start thinking for themselves.
Experience makes one wiser I know. But it never made sense to me to stick my hand into a fire when I knew it would burn me. But that is exactly what many people do. They do understand themselves what to do, its just that they do something stupid and then regret it. My mind understands consequences very well. Call me too safe and not loosening up and not enjoying life. Enjoying life to me doesnt mean doing stupid things.
Chicken soup for the soul- if one knows the series, its stories written mostly by teens on various topics. Teens helping teens. And I’ve found many stories educational, and inspirational, but regular teenage pressures dont exactly relate to me. But then everything doesnt have to be something one relates too. Everyone’s different. Unique.
