I said no to peer pressure

Many teenagers today deny peer pressure. They say that they do things simply because they want to, and that their friends do not play any role in them doing drugs, drinking or even having sex.

As a real teen in this very real world, I want to tell you that it is not true. Peer pressure plays a huge role in our everyday lives and plays an even bigger role in the decisions we make. Let me tell you about this one time when peer pressure was at its highest in my life.

In high school, going to parties and drinking can be a huge thing. It seems like you will only be popular if you go to all of the best parties and have all of the “coolest” friends. Being a senior in high school makes it even harder! All of my friends are into the party scene, and I’m really not. They invited me to go to this party that one of the most popular girls in school was having. They said there wouldn’t be any drinking—and I, being somewhat gullible, fell for it.

So I went to the party. When I walked in, there was alcohol everywhere, and everyone was getting a little too physical. I felt really uncomfortable at first, but I was at a hard time in my life. So I slowly started getting used to it and, before I knew it, I found myself going to get some beer and thinking, “Everyone is doing it, so just one isn’t going to hurt anybody.”

As I got to the beer and started pouring it, I realized that it was something I shouldn’t be doing. I put down the beer and I walked home from the party. I was automatically labeled “uncool.” It was a tough thing for me, but I knew that I had to be smart and walk away from all the peer pressure.

I am very happy with my decision that night, and I think my story could be encouraging to teens all over America. It is OK to say no, and it is definitely OK to walk away.

Nicole Letteer, 17, is a senior James M. Coughlin High School in Wilkes-Barre, Penn. She will attend Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, Penn., in August.

Nicole won $100 for this article. Do you have a great first-person story in you? Submit it to www.nextSTEPmagazine.com/writingcontest.

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