Peer PressurePeer Pressure – I mentioned in a column a couple of weeks ago that not everyone at college drinks, does drugs, has sex, skips class, or goes totally wild. And while it may seem otherwise at times, some people who go to college actually do behave in a way that they can be proud of, and some even make mature, well thought out decisions. The biggest issue here is that in college, decisions are made without as much (sometimes completely without) influence from your parents, family, or possibly any other adult. That can leave some people more susceptible to peer pressure, and certainly tests the strength of your convictions.
Class attendance is one area in which college students each have to make their own decisions. Do you go to class or not? Do you go all the time, or just when you view the information being discussed to be important, or only for quizzes and tests? In high school, there are rules about attendance, and most would probably get into some sort of trouble with either the school or their parents if they chose not to attend. Not so in college. While some professors will keep track of attendance or penalize those who don’t attend, there are usually no requirements that you attend class. You could certainly make the argument though (and some faculty and advisors do) that class attendance correlates with higher grades. The choice is yours… Drinking alcohol is another area in which you’ll have to make tough decisions…whether or not you’ll drink, how much and how often…if you’ll do it before you’re 18…if you’ll drink and drive (this one’s a no-brainer!). If you choose not to drink, does that mean you won’t be around alcohol? What about being a designated driver. Some people go to the parties, but hold an empty cup in their hand. It’s kind of like girls who wear a ring on their left hand to look like they’re engaged – sometimes it just keeps you from having to have a discussion you’d rather not have! Sometimes peer pressure manifests itself in people actually trying to get you to do something you don’t want to do. Sometimes it’s more subtle. Like making a decision because of what you think everyone else is doing, or because of how you think others will view you based on your choices. The other side of the coin is temptation. College provides plenty of opportunities to do things you know you shouldn’t, but want to anyway. What I’m suggesting here is to make sure the decisions you make when you go to college are your decisions – ones you can live with – and not those of others. Don’t take the easy way out and go along with the crowd. You’ll stand out more if you do your own thing! And if you think about these things before college, before you’re faced with a choice, the decision is much easier to make. Back to Articles List |
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