Ever did something that you thought wasn’t right but did it anyways to save face?
Well it isn’t uncommon. In fact, it happens to almost everyone at some point. And sometimes one wrong decision may affect you for a long long time.
Friday night after school, long weekend to look forward to, everyone was excited and in a good mood. Sometimes excitement may not be a good thing, and this was the case. Mikkel who jokingly asked for cigarettes, thinking it would be funny to take a used one out and pretend to smoke. Toby and Ben, who were previously victims to this kind of peer pressure, took it on seriously, using Danny’s fake ID to purchase a pack of cigarettes. At this point, Mikkel was obviously feeling a sense of regret for his earlier actions but had no other choice than to take the cigarette. Do what’s cool or what’s right? It’s an easy pick for many teenagers.
See, this is the kind of things that happen today. These kids, they know it’s wrong but nevertheless, they still smoke, drink and do drugs. The reason behind that is because you’re not considered ‘cool’ and you’re not accepted if you chicken out and do the right thing. This isn’t just a simple matter, where you can go back whenever you want to. One step to the wrong path and there’s no going back. Thing is, it’s not like there’s no solution to this nor is it that the solution is very difficult to follow. Anybody offer you anything you think isn’t right, say “no.” Might be easier said than done, but that’s the way to the right path.
In a recent survey done in a international school in Singapore, 13 out of 25 students in a class has been involved with alcohol, cigarettes or drugs at one point, and for 11 of them it was because of peer pressure. An 8th grader was quoted saying “I don’t think any of us ever wanted to start this. One wrong decision and that’s it, game over.”
In a recent research conducted by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, teens think about both the risks and rewards of their actions. However, unlike adults, they tend to ignore the risk, in favour of the reward. It’s not just alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. In a study by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence teens driving with their friends in the car were more likely to take risks - like speeding through yellow lights - if they knew that two or more of their friends were watching. All this is connected together in a way. Teen’ decision might be influenced by who is around and if you think they’d be impressed. The desire to impress your friends may override your fear of taking risks.
In a recent survey done in a international school in Singapore, 13 out of 25 students in a class has been involved with alcohol, cigarettes or drugs at one point, and for 11 of them it was because of peer pressure. An 8th grader was quoted saying “I don’t think any of us ever wanted to start this. One wrong decision and that’s it, game over.”
In a recent research conducted by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, teens think about both the risks and rewards of their actions. However, unlike adults, they tend to ignore the risk, in favour of the reward. It’s not just alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. In a study by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence teens driving with their friends in the car were more likely to take risks - like speeding through yellow lights - if they knew that two or more of their friends were watching. All this is connected together in a way. Teen’ decision might be influenced by who is around and if you think they’d be impressed. The desire to impress your friends may override your fear of taking risks.
By Ko
