Peer Pressure

Mariama McGhee
Sophomore
UPREP High


Peer Pressure is when someone is forced to do something they don’t want to do. Their friends are the main ones who cause their discomfort. Drug usage, violence, lying, and betrayal are part of peer pressure. The victim feels so challenged and uncomfortable that he or she completes their friend’s request. After that they are left with nothing.

Peer Pressure is also related to insecurity. Those who cause peer pressure are suffering from insecurity. They believe that they are not popular enough for anyone and anything. So in order to make themselves feel better they pressure their friends to do unpredictable things. This is a vicious cycle that goes on and on.

I go through this everyday and to be honest it’s not easy. I have to deal with students who love to get their way. They think I’m nothing like them (I don’t want to be anything like them). They pressure me to do things that make no sense to me at all. Fortunately, I learned to deal with it in a positive way.

For example, the book, Animal Farm, tells the story of a group of barn animals and their two leaders Napoleon and Snowball. The animals lead a revolt against the humans, but ever since they succeeded Snowball gets driven out and Napoleon pressures the animals very brutally. The animals are forced to do everything Napoleon wants them to do. This is a huge example of peer pressure.

In conclusion many teens are faced with this issue. They feel as if they can’t get help from others, let alone their own parents. Again, I felt the same way and I am willing to learn from my experience. I wish my fellow peers weren’t suffering form their own friend’s foolishness. To my fellow peers, let's rise up and help each other through insecurity and peer pressure.