What Is The Best Way To Handle Peer Pressure?

Growing up, every teenager gets in the middle of good and bad situations. But not all situations are easy to handle. Some decisions have a clear right or wrong answer; like should I wear this or that? Others may need some real thinking and processing; like should I break the rules or lie to someone I care about? For example, peer pressure. Nobody faces peer pressure easily no matter how old you are. Peer pressure can be negative and positive. It could lead you to new friends and adventures, or it can get you in a lot of trouble you can never take back.

In the article, “Dealing with Peer Pressure” by, Nemours helps teenagers who are having a hard time dealing with peer pressure, think of the positive influences peer pressure can give someone. Nemours’s view point is that peer pressure can help make new friends and open doors to new experiences. It also is a good example for others, making the peer influenced to set their standards higher than they ever thought possible. This author has chosen a descriptive article by expressing how to handle peer pressure, what to do when you’re in a situation influencing peer pressure, and if you should avoid it or go for it. It teaches teenagers peer pressure isn’t that bad and everyone should try it so they can experience new things and meet new people. Though sometimes the pressure to fit in and do what everyone else is doing isn’t always the best path to turn to. A person might feel pressured to do something just because others are doing it, or “say they are”. Peer pressure can influence a person to do something that is harmless-or can cause many consequences. In the article, Nemours is very bias towards the fact that peer pressure is open to everyone, and is a great experience to try in your life. Nemours uses words like; influences, comforting, committed, and opportunities. These words give you a slant which expresses that dealing with peer pressure isn’t all bad and can introduce you to new opportunities, and friendships.

In the article, “Peer Pressure” by, Teens for Life influences teens to set your standards high and be the bigger person. “Peer Pressure’s” article is an informative article giving examples about a real life situation teens go through in middle and high school; peer pressure. In the article, peer pressure is described as “no big deal”, and it’s easy to just say you’re bigger than that; but that’s not always the case. If your peers go overboard with pressuring you, the best advice the article gives you is to just say you’re bigger than that. However, that doesn’t specifically mean to leave and find new friends, the article just states to not be apart of your peers plan. The author is very understanding with the tough decisions teens must make when they are pressured, so the author practically walks you through the steps through middle and high school drama. The author uses words like; truthful, regret, and important. The articles slant informs teens that the author is determined to help kids that have a hard time finding who are the right peers to be around, what do they need to do to fit in, and when to learn to be above the influence.

In the article, “Six Ways to Deal with Peer Pressure” by, FBC Ministries, informs teens the best six ways to handle and/or stay away from peer pressure. This descriptive article helps teens learn the six ways they should handle peer pressure. The author’s viewpoint is that the best ways to handle peer pressure is to avoid it and just say no, even if it means loosing someone who you thought was your friend but turned into be someone who is no longer trustworthy. The author suggests to teens to stay away from any positive and negative influences you know certain people will bring on you. Also, choosing your friends wisely can have a big effect on dealing with peer pressure. Even if it has to do with loosing friends and being lonely, the best way is to stay strong and tough it out. Even though, just saying no can be the best way to deal with peer pressure, saying no could also mean making you stay away from drama, and being social with other peer. The article suggests not attending slumber parties, and avoiding hanging out with big groups of friends out of school; that’s when everything starts to stir up. In the article, the author uses words like; willingness, wisely, and survive. These words give teens a slant that dealing with pressure can be tough but everyone can overcome it if they just say no.

Dealing with peer pressure can be one of the most difficult experiences in middle and high school. But it can also be one of the easiest. These articles – with there different perspectives and opinions – help you choose which path is best for you to follow. Whether is means finding new peers and influences, or just going for it and not worrying about the consequences. With peer pressure meaning many different things, getting advice like these three article, or even from an adult or other peers, those are one of the best things to turn to when in a situation dealing with peer pressure.

Skyscraper

Skyscraper

            One of the most inspiring songs I know was sung by an artist who has had to go through the one of the hardest obstacles as a celebrity and a teenager. At first, she didn’t handle it well, but eventually overcame it, to never let it affect her again.

Throughout Demi Lovato’s life as a teenager, she was bullied and picked on about her weight. She was bullied so much, to the point where she had to be home schooled. She also developed eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Anorexia is a disorder that gives a person major fear about gaining weight, and makes the person very compulsive about sustaining a healthy body weight. Bulimia is also an eating disorder that causes the person to eat a lot of food at one time, and then get rid of it by forcing themselves to throw up. Demi had a lot of trouble fighting anorexia and bulimia. She also started cutting herself. Teenagers would think that cutting themselves would help them deal with getting rid of the stress and anger they go through in their lives. Demi also had trouble hiding her cuts on her arms and wrists.

In Demi’s perspective she thought that the more she was in the spotlight; the more problems faced her, which lowered her confidence more and more every day. She started hiding, not going out as much, not attending any events. She even quit starring in her Disney Channel show called “Sonny with a Chance” Staying away from the press was the only thing that kept her sane during that time.

Demi told the press that she couldn’t deal with the stress any longer so she checked herself into rehab. She stayed in rehab for three months until she thought she was back on track and ready to start over. She started recording “Skyscraper” before rehab. She made the song sound like it was a cry for help to get away from her terrible life. After rehab, she rerecorded the song and changed the lyrics around to make it imply that she is stronger now and can handle any obstacle that comes her way.

Demi Lovato’s song called Skyscraper is about how no matter what obstacles come to someone, anyone, and especially she, can overcome it because we’re all as tall as a skyscraper. Saying you’re as tall as a skyscraper means that nothing will tower over you, nothing will get in your way anymore. In her song she sings, “You can take everything I have. You can break everything I am, like I’m made of glass. Like I’m made of paper. Go on and try to tear me down. I will be rising from the ground, like a skyscraper.” This is reaching out to others that are also fighting for the same reasons, saying that no matter what people do or say to you, you can fight through it and overcome it because you are bigger and stronger than what people say or do.

After the song was released and the press left her alone, she wanted to get back on track, and back into the spotlight where she knew she belonged. After events she started attending again, press was stating she was back to her beautiful, confident self that she’s always had from the inside and outside of herself.

The song is very inspiring to me because I believe that she’s not the only that has had a hard life. Many teenagers have been through these obstacles their whole life. But to Demi, this song is to help teenagers fight through their problems, and become more confident in themselves.

After hearing this song, it made me feel that even though there have been hardships in your life, you can overcome it, and know that you’ve lived the best life you can live. Even though many teenagers are not celebrities, it’s just as hard to overcome any obstacles, especially these. But just fighting, and knowing that one day you can overcome all obstacles, can change the way you think, feel, and act towards people and life’s troubles.