by Linda Ann Nickerson

Created on: August 15, 2007

Everyone's doing it! Whatever "it" is, do you feel like you have to participate? Why?

Are you a people-pleaser? How much do you care about what others think about you?

Of course, it is important to care about people, but it is easy to become overly preoccupied with their opinions of you. That's where peer pressure steps in.

Basically, peer pressure is the seemingly overwhelming influence you can feel, when your friends or associates try to convince you to look, talk, and act as they do. It can be a powerful thing!

Often, people influence one another for good reasons. Suppose you study harder for a chemistry test, just because all your friends are cramming too. This may be a good thing!

On the other hand, if your friends try to lead you to skip school, do drugs, steal a smoke, or drive drunk, then you had better beware!

Negative peer pressure can affect a teen in many ways. Once you can recognize it, you can begin to resist its control over you.

FEAR OF A FASHION FAUX PAS

Many people are afraid to be themselves. This is clearly expressed in fashion choices. Stroll the corridors in any high school, and this will be clear to see. You can spot the cliques by matching up the clothing styles. Everyone claims to be an individual, but no one really wants to stick out from the crowd. A quick look reveals the crowd to which each person belongs.

As you get dressed for school, how do you pick out what to wear? Do you call a few friends to find out what they are wearing that day? Do you refuse to wear that yellow shirt, simply because someone in study hall made a wisecrack about it last week?

When you go shopping for new clothes or shoes, do you deliberately seek out the identical brands and styles that the popular kids are already wearing? Do you have your own style? Do you know what your own look is?

If you are going out for the evening with friends, how long does it take you to prepare? When you meet up with your friends, do you feel the need to ask, "Does this look OK?"

How about your appearance? Do you style your hair any way you like, or do you feel the need to look just like your friends? If your friends double-pierce their ears, dye their hair neon colors or get tattoos, do you follow suit automatically? Why?

FEAR OF FAILURE

No one wants to fail, although everyone certainly will someday and somehow. Why allow the fear of failure to prevent you from trying something new or challenging? Stepping up and attempting something that stretches you a bit is a wonderful way to grow and

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