Peer Pressure
Peer pressure is a big part of a teenager’s life. Some teens
think that if they do drugs or smoke just because their friends are its cool.
The truth is it’s not very cool. People will accept you if you just be yourself
and say no to uncomfortable situations. Peer pressure happens every day. Teens
have to stay strong in what they believe is wrong. Kidshealth.org says people
give in to peer pressure because they have a desire to fit in with kids their
own age. They worry that kids might make fun of them because they didn’t try
the latest drug.Millions of teens give into peer pressure very year and it's time to stop that. Being yourself and not giving in to peer pressure will lead
you to a bright future.
Amanda's Story
Amanda was a regular 16 year old girl with average grades and average friends. Everything started to change when a new student named Cassy was enrolled in her school at the end of the year. Cassy was a smoker, drinker and all time party girl. Amanda and Cassy became close friends within 2 weeks of Cassy's arrival. They even had nicknames like Cas and Manders. One Friday after school Cassy invited Amanda to the biggest and baddest party of the year after school. There was going to be over 200 people there at a house where the parents are on vacation. Manders told Cassy " I don't feel comfortable going but you can go without me right?". "No! you're acting like a baby. Nothing bad is going to happen it's just a party. Only losers aren't going." Cassy exclaimed. Amanda gave into Cassie's idea. Amanda couldn't tell her parents she was going because they wouldn't approve. She decided to tell her parents she was spending the night a Cassy's place and will be home tomorrow. The party was at 8:30 and Cassy would pick her up at 5:00 to get ready.
In a blink of an eye the time was already 8:30. Amanda's palms were sweating and her eyes were wondering around the huge mansion. She had never really been to a party, only to small one's with 20 people who were all nice and kind. A grin grew on Cassy's face when she saw someone bring beer into the room. She grabbed Amanda's hand and rushed over there with nothing on her mind but drinking. Cassy snatched 2 beers and handed one to Amanda. Manders had unease in her eyes and sweat racing down her hands. However, Cassy was all ready half way through the can but then stopped. She stared at Amanda and said "Go on, drink it. Haven't you drank before?". Amanda didn't know what to say, she was stuck! She quickly got her self together and lied " Yeah I have but... um this kind isn't my favorite. "Well what is? The jocks brought just about every kind" Cassy questioned. Amanda was stuck again, She didn't really know many kinds of beer. Her family was more proper and would only drink small glasses of wine. Manders named the first beer that popped in her mind. "Bud light" was all she could say to Cassy. Cas bolted over to the table and grabbed a can of bud light. "Here, I told you they had every kind" Cassy said with her unforgettable smile. She popped the top and handed it to Amanda. "Now drink!" She exclaimed. Amanda put the beer to her lips a little shaky and drank. At first it tasted horrible, but when i settled down she actually kinda liked it.
By now it was 12:00. The girls were both on their 4th beer and pretty much drunk. Cas was falling all over the place while Amanda was playing beer pong with the coolest kids in school. She felt on top of the world right now but somewhere deep inside something was telling her what she was doing was wrong. She tried drowning the voice inside her with another gulp of beer. The voice keep getting softer and softer until it was gone. Amanda pasted out on the floor next to the beer pong table. Soon after, Cassy feel asleep on the coffee table. The crowd of the party started to thin out and most of the students went home.
Amanda woke up around 12:00 pm with a raging headache and limp bodies scattered around the room. She got up from the filthy ground and walked over to Jack, the guy who invited her to the party. Amanda asked "Where did Cassy go?". "She went home early this morning." he replied. "Did she ask about me at all?" Manders said. "Nope, just left". Amanda didn't know what to think. Her head was pounding and her supposedly 'best friend' left her at a complete strangers house. She tried calling Cas but there was no answer. She asked Jack for a ride and he said yes. On the ride home Amanda's head was filled with problems and complications. She couldn't think straight at all.
The next day at school Cassy apologized for everything. The next 3 weeks have been life changing for Amanda. Ever since that one night she has been craving alcohol. She was getting as bad as Cassy. Amanda was even pressured to smoke. Her face is looking older and her teeth are yellowing. Amanda's parents have caught on to what she is doing and tried talking to her. Amanda just yells at them and walks out of the room. Her parents are sick of her and her attitude so they are getting her a drug counselor.
Amanda has been in counseling for a year now and has calmed down She finally realized how bad of a friend Cassy is. They got into a giant fight about counseling and how Cassy is a horrible friend. Manders life is coming back slowly. She doesn't know if she will ever be the person she was before Cassy but she is trying to get as close as possible.
Resources
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Click here for more information on peer pressure
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