Have you ever been pressured into doing something you thought you would never do?  Whether it’s to fit in , or maybe to look “cool”? Don’t worry because this is the case for many students who attend any type of school. Throughout all of the years a person goes to school no one ever really knows the back story or what that person has to go through. About 90 percent of teens have experienced some type of peer pressure.

So what exactly is peer pressure? Peer pressure is one having an influence on another. Peer pressure can happen almost anywhere whether it’s school, on social media, with our friends, or maybe even our own household. Peer pressure can sometimes be a good thing like influencing someone to try a new food, or maybe to turn their assignments in on time. Just like peer pressure is good it can also be bad like influencing someone to skip a few classes, or to cheat on an important test or many even substance abuse.

Unfortunately, in most cases negative peer pressure can affect one’s mental and emotional state and even sometimes their overall health. In this case many students who attend high school have experienced some type of peer pressure whether its good or bad. Only 10 percent of students say they have never been influenced by peer pressure.

“Peer pressure is mostly bad from what I see,” Kaitlyn Brown said,  “but it just depends on the person who is pressuring you to do something, good pressure means that person is someone you should allow yourself to be around.”

Around Cy Springs many students feel as though certain people need to learn to control how easily they give in to this kind of pressure, for instance like “listening to music” can help suggested several students. Another student suggested meditation to help control all your thoughts. Everyone finds their own way of dealing with peer pressure.

Did you know that more than 70 percent of teen smokers started due to peer pressure? Oftentimes teens are caught engaging in activities they should not involve themselves with. Peer pressure is often the case behind this.

“I have walked into bathrooms where I have seen people from school who I would have never thought smoked being influenced to do so” said Leah Ughophfor, “I just think there being pressured into doing something they wouldn’t normally do.”

Contrary to what Leah thinks Isabella Gonzales said, “ I have never personally been pressured into doing anything I did not want to do, I think that you are always in control of your thoughts. I would just ignore anyone who tried to get me to do something bad.”

Overall, many Cy Springs students understand what peer pressure is but they may not know what to do in these situations. First, start by having conversations and setting boundaries, think about it before you do it. Then evaluate your relationships and friendships. If you still have problems try reaching out to someone about the person who is causing you to do things out of the normal. At the end of the day you have the ability to understand when things are good or bad for you. Allow yourself to be okay with setting boundaries.