by Zoe Sophia Carrillo, age 13
The switch from middle school to high school can be hard for many different reasons for different people, from students with disabilities to students struggling with mental health issues. However, one main reason why this transition can be difficult is because of the fear of falling for peer pressure.
Peer pressure is when you are being influenced to do something you may find uncomfortable, like trying drugs or being in a relationship that you don’t want to be in.
“Usually no parents are around, everyone is watching you, judging you, and doing something against what the majority is doing will just make you look bad, and hurt everyone’s opinions of you,” Jason Hampton, a senior at Lenape High School in Medford, N.J., told the Burlington County Times.
We all encounter peer pressure at some point in our lives, maybe some more than others. Nonetheless, this problem can be minimized.
According to students interviewed by the Burlington County Times, peer pressure can be combated if more people learn how to act for themselves rather than for the people around them. If children understand how to learn from the mistakes they make, there is a better chance that they will be able to speak up when or if they get peer pressured. Campaigns and projects can help raise awareness about peer pressure and change the social mindset about it.
How Are Schools Battling Peer Pressure?
A program at eight Ventura County high schools in California combats peer pressure by helping students with mental health problems. This program is unique because it helps not only the students being assisted, but also the peers assisting them. These peers, known as “wellness peers,” are selected for this program by undergoing an interview process and receiving special training. They share their struggles with mental health with other students.
“I was one of the many students struggling with mental health during the pandemic. I reached out, and got some of the help I needed,” said Jason Gutierrez, a Wellness Center student, to KCLU.
Programs like this could work at many more schools, since you never know who is struggling with mental health issues. They could influence people to find help and share their stories.
Transitioning from Middle School to High School
Most teens experience transition anxiety, and teens with disabilities worry about accessibility when entering high school, according to K-12 Dive. When you’re anxious and nervous at school, this can make you a possible target for peer pressure.
“Students and parents need to know that transition anxiety is normal, and schools should arm them with the necessary knowledge to ease that,” Jennifer Sutton, principal of Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center in Chicago, told K-12 Dive.
Schools can build a bridge between middle and high schools by bringing high school students and staff members to talk to middle school classes, according to K-12 Dive, something Elgin Area School District did. This would allow middle schoolers to learn more about the average high school experience or take tours of high schools before they start there.
The transition to high school is tough, but with the right support and awareness, students can overcome the challenges of peer pressure.
