School & Social Pressures

      In modern society, adolescents are exposed to a plethora of social issues. We've all heard the common saying, "Kids can't be kids anymore." Today, children are forced to experience parental divorce at very young ages. Kids have to face violence and discord before than can face pre-school. It isn't the 1970's anymore. School is the major mold for our socialization as teenagers. Our peers have an everlasting effect on our lives.

      During adolescence, peers play a large part in a teen's life and take the place of the family as the center of a teen's social and leisure activities. Teenagers have many peer relationships, and they interact with many peer groups. Some kids give in to peer pressure because they want to be liked, or because they worry that other kids may make fun of them if they don't go along with the group. Others may go along because they are curious to try something new that others are doing. The saying "everyone's doing it" may influence some kids to leave their better judgment behind.

      As children grow, develop, and move into early adolescence, involvement with their peers and the attraction of peer likeness increases. As pre-teens begin rapid physical, emotional and social changes, they begin to question adult standards and the need for parental guidance. They find it reassuring to turn for advice to friends who understand and sympathize; friends who are in the same position them. By trying new things and testing their ideas with their peers, there is less fear of being ridiculed or embarrassed.

Insecurity

Insecurity runs rampant throughout the hallways of most modern day high school. To an extent, it has become a part of the American educational experience. Students form "cliques" in order to save themselves from humiliation and create a sense of belonging. And no high schooler is immune to it. Naturally, we all have the need to fit in, unless you're completely unsocialized. We all have insecurity.

Insecurity wouldn't be such an issue if it didn't spread to other aspects of our lives. Insecurity spills over into things like peer pressure, social grouping, and even our hopes for the future.

We've all heard about peer pressure and bullying several times throughout our scholastic careers. It's almost been crammed down our throats. But interestingly, when we enter high school, we seem to forget. Upon to the more authentic setting of secondary education, we begin to lose social skills that were second nature to us in middle and elementary school. Courtesy, respect, tolerance. Students lose these as they become self-conscious and selfish. The insecurity takes hold like a vice and we become one of two things, the "influencer" or the "influenced". Insecurity is directly linked to peer pressure and bullying. Have you ever heard the old clichés that talk about the bully feeling bad for themselves and taking it out on others. Well, as hard as it is to believe, they're true.

In addition, students congregate mainly because of their common insecurities. If you can take one group of people you regularly see together, you can find a weakness they all share. Subconsciously, they know this, and group together to overcome this weakness. The maxim, " United we stand, divided we fall" was written by 9th gander wise beyond his years. Take a step back and look at our school values. Those who have many friends are generally looked at as popular and desirable. However, not everyone can see that those who have many allies have many weaknesses.

People say success is based on education. Quite honestly, that's a blatant lie. Success is based on who you know, and how they perceive you. Having friends in high places is always a good thing, even more so in the work force. Any kind of weakness can be detrimental when searching g for work, and that's why testimony from a higher up is essential to getting a decent job. Therefore, insecurity doesn't just stop in high school, it continues well into adulthood, and for some, forever.