Students, Counselors, and Administration Work to Build an All-Inclusive Sense of Unity at State High
When you think of peer pressure, you might picture a bully convincing another student to try drugs or alcohol, or a student being persuaded to cheat on an exam. While these examples of negative peer influence do occur in today’s school communities (including at SCASD), the leading form of peer pressure is the pressure to achieve academically and/or in extracurricular activities.
“Perhaps there has always been a sense of competitiveness in high school,” said Paul Brigman, counselor for the class of 2018 at State High. “But for a student to earn stellar grades, play a varsity sport, and maintain any semblance of a social life, things like eating, sleeping, and general wellness maintenance take a distant back seat.”
Not to mention, he adds, that nearly every teenager in high school feels like he is being watched and judged by the entire school community at all times.
“Some of this pressure comes from competitive and highly-motivated peers,” he said. “But a hefty dose of pressure is often self-inflicted or delivered from societal culture or well-intended families.”
Brigman has seen this concerning form of social pressure lead to clinical levels of stress and anxiety in students at State High. So he and other district officials have worked to strengthen the school’s approach to combatting peer pressure in today’s high school environment. In recent years, counselors have transitioned from utilizing peer mediation to implementing positive school-wide behavior initiatives and a restorative practices model for addressing behavioral misconduct and student conflicts.
“Both of these programs promote honest and direct communication between individual students, as well as faculty members and other school professionals,” said Brigman.
Additionally, the State High Student Senate and Student Government have worked closely with counseling, administration, and the athletics program to promote an all-inclusive and community-minded sense of unity at State High, embodying a student-generated motto of “All One Team in 2017.”
“Combatting peer pressure and promoting acceptance among one’s classmates must be a grassroots effort,” said Brigman. “The vast majority of our student population wants to come to school every day and contribute to an atmosphere in which they feel appreciated and respected by their peers.”
“The buzz I hear in our hallways is that most students are proud of our school and believe in the power of the masses in creating a culture of positivity and social justice,” he added.
Parents are encouraged to help their students navigate peer pressure scenarios and other potentially harmful social situations they may encounter at school. It all begins with keeping an open, healthy dialogue about their school experience and social relationships, then helping them to develop effective language that can be used in response to uncomfortable social situations.
“Support your student in developing resiliency,” said Brigman. “All of us must encounter challenges, roadblocks, and life hurdles in our youth and adolescence so that we are better equipped to overcome challenges as adults.”
Brigman also encourages parents to talk to their students about available resources and how to find help when it is needed.
“School counselors are well trained and prepared to respond to complex social situations, including those involving peer pressure," he said. “But there are many other sources of support available to students, both inside and outside of school.”
By SCASD Education Foundation
