by: Nandini Gupta,16
Drinking, drugs and smoking have been “cool” since forever now. But I don’t get what all the hype is about. It seems that these days you cannot have a social life without engaging in such illegal acts of substance abuse.
My classmates and cousins have pressured me to try alcohol but when I refuse, they call me things like “a goody two-shoes”. So, I am here to say that sticks and stones may break my bones but those words can never hurt me. Yes, this kind of peer pressure has caused me to feel bad about my choices and make me rethink my choice of refusing. But in the end, I always choose no. Because dammit! No means no.
We must get rid of the toxic norm of peer pressure that plagues the society and make “no” the new “cool” thing. Stand up and be a leader, not a follower. Remind your peers about the multiple negative effects drugs have on one’s body . Tell them that consuming alcohol and smoking doesn’t make you cool, it makes you dead.
In the end, I would just like to say to all those who pressure their peers into trying alcohol and drugs: why do you do it yourself? Is it because of some internal issue you have with yourself? Just think about it.
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