Letter to the Editor: Social Groups and Belonging

submitted by a GISS Student

High school is a place where we learn more about ourselves and figure out, to a certain extent, who we are. However, sometimes it can feel like we end up changing, but not for ourselves. Whether it's what we wear, what we listen to, or who we choose to have lunch with, there's always this quiet pressure to ‘fit in.’ Peer pressure isn't always that obvious. Sometimes it can be easy to spot, like a friend daring you to do something you’re not comfortable with, or someone openly judging a decision you made that you thought was a good idea. 

On the other hand, there’s subtle things like not wanting to act differently in fear of being left out, pretending to laugh at jokes you don’t find funny, agreeing with things you don’t believe in, or unconsciously changing yourself just to be liked. When we don't have anyone to talk to about these things, we struggle without any insight. It's important to know that there are options for you and people that you can get help from. We have Nia Williams and Tony Marshall here at GISS in the counselling area along with other staff willing to have a confidential conversation. 

How to know if you are being pressured by your peers:

Actively spotting it can be very difficult, so take some time for yourself to stop and think about it. Am I staying true to myself? Am I genuinely happy with where I am right now and how I represent myself? If the answer is no, perhaps the best thing for you to do is rethink and evaluate your choices. School is difficult to navigate and that’s okay. To put it into a different perspective, we’re all new at being human. None of us have lived this life before, so of course we’re learning as we go.