Some Thoughts About Peer Pressure

Sally

Sally loved to read. There were few activities more satisfying than opening a new book and stepping out on that journey into unknown worlds. She read all the time. In the bed. In the bathtub. At the beach. Even at school. But then one day one of the popular girls caught her reading in her spare time at school and picked on her. Sally never read a book for pleasure again.

Sally loved music. She took piano lessons, but because her family occasionally struggled with money her mother had told her that she could have piano lessons or she could have all the new designer clothes that the kids at school were wearing. At first she chose piano, but one day at school one of the rich girls saw the tattered second-hand outfit she was wearing and teased her. Sally never took a piano lesson again.

Sally loved science fiction. Star Trek was her favorite television show. But one day at school one of the mean girls saw that she had a notebook with a picture of Spock on it and made fun of her. Sally never watched Star Trek again.

Alice

Alice loved to read. There were few activities more satisfying than opening a new book and stepping out on that journey into unknown worlds. She read all the time. In the bed. In the bathtub. At the beach. Even at school. But then one day one of the popular girls caught her reading in her spare time at school and picked on her. Alice never talked to that popular girl again.

Alice loved music.  She took piano lessons, but because her family occasionally struggled with money her mother had told her that she could have piano lessons or she could have all the new designer clothes that the kids at school were wearing. At first she chose piano, but one day at school one of the rich girls saw the tattered second-hand outfit she was wearing and teased her. Alice never talked to that rich girl again.

Alice loved science fiction.  Star Trek was her favorite television show. But one day at school one of the mean girls saw that she had a notebook with a picture of Spock on it and made fun of her. Alice never talked to that mean girl again.

The End Result

When their high school graduation rolled around, Sally was surrounded by an entourage of beautiful girls who were willing to worship the very ground she walked on if only she would talk, act, and dress just like they did. Alice, on the other hand, was surrounded by a very small group of girls who all accepted her just as she was.