Peer Pressure

Hello, I'm Peer Pressure. You might feel me when your friends all want to do the same thing, and I whisper in your ear, 'You should do it too!'. I'm that wobbly feeling in your stomach that makes you worry about fitting in or being left out. I am the reason you might do something just because others are.

On the 12th of October, I visited a boy named Leo during recess. His friends wanted to sneak onto the big kids' slide, even though it was against the rules. I made him feel like everyone was watching, waiting for him to agree. 'Don't be a baby,' one friend said, and I made Leo's cheeks feel hot with worry. He felt torn between being safe and being part of the group.

Leo felt me pushing him to say yes. But then, he remembered what his teacher said about making safe choices. He took a deep breath and found his own voice. 'I don't want to get in trouble,' he said. 'Let's play tag on the field instead.'. His friend Sam agreed, and soon they were all having fun their own way, without breaking any rules.

Sometimes I feel uncomfortable, but I'm not all bad. I'm a test that helps you discover how strong you are inside. Every time you make a choice that feels right for you, you learn to trust yourself more. I continue to show up throughout life, but understanding me helps you make choices you can be proud of, and that's a real superpower.