Q: Junior high, that transcitioning time period we all face where we begin to leave behind trading cards and tag games for lipstick and clothes. What we also tend to leave behind are those elementary friendships and begin to hudle into cliques. Even though our cliques consist of people we tend to have similar interests and can trust, there is always a point where we all encounter peer pressure. And most of the time all these type of peer pressures are an attempt to impress others. So then how do we deal with this peer pressure? Does it come from just friends or others who are not close friends?
Q: As high schoolers, school gets more difficult as you move up to each grade level which school work sometimes requires for some of you to stay up late at night than you usually have done when you were younger. Have you seen sleep deprivation become an effect on your life? How do you manage it? Would this require coffee? Do you feel like once you begin to drink coffee you begin to rely on it a lot?
A: Whether it’s your close friends or people in or outside of school, everyone faces or is at some point part of a peer pressure group. Peer pressure does not always mean drugs, alcohol, or carrying rebellious actions. Peer pressure, which is most likely to come from your friends, is simply the change of behavior or attitude that these group people influence on you. An anymous 6th grader at TYWLS explains how the topic of converstation popularly spoken amongst are what other girls are wearing or what their behaviors are like in and outside of class. “Even though we may or may not like that other girl in our grade, sometimes, for example if she were to do something with her hair at first everyone looks as her weird and crazy. But then she is seen as cool because she may look pretty or gives that sense her parents let her do what she wants, so then everyone starts to copy her.” Yes, everyone is at some point tempted to be like their friends because we perfer to not be outcasted. However, it is important to be aware and be able to distinguish what habits or actions are appropiate and healthy to adapt. Like an 8th grader point out, “At the end why try to be like others because then it just looks like you like to copy and you don’t have your own individuality. You shouldn’t care what others do because you don’t know where that may lead you to.” You should always think of the future consequences your actions will cause. Even though it does seem cool at the moment to do the same things as the rest it’s not bad to stand out, to do something differently without having to isolate yourself from the rest. Individuality most of the time is the most attracting and can help you be more content with yourself. At the end, rather than focus on others, you should just focus on yourself.
A: Sleep is very essential, it isn’t exactly a time when your body and brain shut off. While you rest, your brain stays busy, overseeing a wide variety of biological maintenance that keeps your body running in top condition, preparing you for the day ahead. Without enough hours of restorative sleep, you won’t be able to work, learn, create, and communicate at a level even close to your true potential. Many of us depend on coffee in order to stay awake or so that it gives us “energy” for the day. A high school senior said, “I think sleep is really important because I really don't get enough of it. It does affect how I perform throughout the day. I do rely on coffee a lot, not only because of the rising energy but it does give me like that little, not boost of confidence but it does make me relax a little and feel better. I guess it might be all in my head that I think caffeine actually does have effect but I feel like it does.” It is essential for an average adult to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night while not depending on coffee or caffeine in general. In order to stop depending on coffee, we need to take little steps. For example, if you drink more than one cup a day, limit it to one cup a day and keep on decreasing the dose until you get at a healthy level.