Just say no to peer pressure

Many teenagers today want to be popular and will do anything to fit in even if it means smoking, drinking, doing drugs, changing their appearance—actions they really don’t want to do. In the book, The Battle of Jericho, Sharon M. Draper tells an age old story of peer pressure and the need to be popular which turns deadly.

The Battle of Jericho begins with a typical, shy teenage boy who can play the trumpet like a bird on an early morning and every note is bright like diamonds. Jericho is asked to pledge to a popular club called the Warriors of Distinction. This gets the attention of Arielle, one of the hottest girls in his class. When the initiation process finally begins Jericho realizes that everything they do makes him very uncomfortable and he doesn’t know how to react because if he backs out, all the other pledges will not be able to pledge. Jericho just goes along with everyone so that he can fit in and be popular like the leaders of the Warriors of Distinction. He doesn’t want to let Arielle down, who is starting to like him. Finally, the last initiation rite arrives and all the pledges are thinking they are almost officially Warriors of Distinction. Jericho and the other pledges, including his cousin Josh, are asked to get drunk. Jericho knows this is wrong but he can’t back out now so he once again goes along with everyone else. After they are very drunk and relaxed, they are told to jump out of a two story house. They are forced out the window by one of the leaders holding a gun. So Jericho and all the other pledges jump out of the window except Josh, Jericho’s cousin. Josh hesitates at first but he jumps from the window instead of sitting down first like all the other pledges did and he lost control when he was falling and landed on the ground headfirst. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Sadly, the world is full of kids like Jericho who will do anything to be accepted. Many kids have unbelievable amounts of pressure from people around them. Usually a larger group or club controls the way they dress, act, talk, and overall their lifestyle. Some young people will even go along with what everyone else is doing but be very uncomfortable with what is going on. We all need to realize that its okay to be yourself and that you can be accepted for who you are. We are all unique with special talents, abilities, and gifts.