OP/ED

How to Deal With Peer Pressure

By Jack Sherry

Peer pressure is the influence of a group of peers on another person. Usually, peers can be people who are in your grade/age group. You may not know it, but all of your peers influence you.

There are two types of peer pressure: positive and negative. Positive peer pressure pushes you to become a better person. However, negative peer pressure is a more significant issue for young teens today, and it is what first comes to mind when hearing the phrase used. It is usual for a person to want to fit in with others. Usually, when you experience negative peer pressure, it comes from a peer or a group of peers who makes you feel like you have to do something terrible to be accepted. Negative peer pressure usually causes disappointment or guilt for doing something horrible that you wouldn't normally do if it hadn't been done, if not for the pressure of fitting in. Some examples of negative peer pressure can be abusing drugs or engaging in sexual activity, stealing, bullying, being forced to dress or act a certain way, and many more examples. Even though this may seem wrong, there are many ways to overcome peer pressure.

One way to deal with peer pressure is to check up on yourself. When in a situation where you think your peers are pressuring you to do something you don't feel is right, ask yourself some questions. Is this something I typically do? Will there be consequences? It's always important to do whatever makes you feel comfortable and safe. Trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, it most likely isn't.

Another way to deal with peer pressure is to give an excuse. For example, you have a doctor's appointment or a lesson. You could also say that your parents texted you to go home, and you just needed to go home. Having a reason for these situations is helpful.

One more way to deal with peer pressure is to talk to a trusted adult, mentor, school counselor, etc. They can listen to you and understand what you are going through. They can also give you advice or strategies on how to deal with these types of situations.

Though there are so many other ways to deal with peer pressure, these are significant ones to know if you're ever stuck in a position where you feel forced to do something terrible just to feel accepted. Finally, know that not giving in to peer pressure has many benefits, like the ability to stand your ground in any situation.

Source: fcps.edu

Is saying “Happy Holidays” Really a War on Christmas?

By Edward Morrison

I celebrate Christmas and think it is the best holiday ever, but that is just an opinion. For most of US history, saying Merry Christmas was the norm, and it was like no other holidays existed. But as this country's diversity has grown, different cultures were brought to the US with their holidays and traditions, and saying Merry Christmas was leaving some people out. So now it's appropriate to say Happy Holidays. I'm not saying you can't say Merry Christmas, but don't say it to be disrespectful. Conservative News network Fox News anchor Jesse Watters said, "It's important to remember that what we celebrate in December is Christmas, and we should be wishing one another 'Merry Christmas' and not.

'Happy Holidays'".

That is very disrespectful to the many cultures in America that celebrate different holidays and have other traditions. It can also divide an already divided country. Happy Holidays.

Botox Gone Wrong

By Adam Lugassi

Simon Cowell is a Personality on English television and an executive at a record label. He is also well-known for being on Britain's Got Talent. He is a famous influencer, so it will become a hot topic when people see the influencer's changed appearance.

Fans and people who know about Simon Cowell have been talking about Simon Cowell's Botox failure. His face looked like it was drooping, Like a melting doll. Many fans say he looks almost 'unrecognizable' compared to his old self.

Simon Cowell explains, "There was a stage where I might have gone too far. I saw a picture of me the other day but didn't recognize it as me first of all," he said in a recent interview. He said he had done it because of how much in the air botox was, "There was a phase where everyone was having their faces pumped full of this and the other." He says in an interview with The Sun

When he and his partners got The Best Reality Show award for "Americas Got Talent," he acknowledged that his Facial Changes had gotten too far. He had even said that his son got freaked from how different and strange his face looked from botox.

Simon Cowell explains to The Sun that he is done with botox and is returning to the basics. This has gotten so bad that billboard wallpaper changers are trying to edit his face, so the Botox is not obvious on Simon Cowell. You know some things are terrible when you take measures to that level.

This situation is pretty sad, as Simon Cowell's face can never return to what it was before, and probably have to live with the scars of his botox for the rest of his life. A lesson from this situation is that Botox is not the answer to aging as it is natural, and at that point, you should not care for looks.