<p>As you get older, your friends are becoming more and more important to you. You want to fit in and you want to impress people that you admire. These wants can often lead you to do things you wouldn't normally do, especially when peer pressure comes into play. If you can learn to navigate peer pressure, you'll come out stronger in the end.</p><h4>What Is Peer Pressure?</h4><p>Peer pressure happens when people your age try to convince you to do something. It's often easy for kids your age to influence you because you usually want others to like you. Let's look at an example.</p><p>Jolie has just become friends with Lexie and Jen. She wants them to like her. Lexie and Jen usually go and play in the bathroom during music class each week. They pressure Jolie to go with them.</p><p>Peer pressure isn't always bad. Let's see an example of good peer pressure.</p><p>Rory wants to try out for the baseball team, but he's nervous. He doesn't think he's good enough. His friends know he's a great player. They push him to try out for the team with them.</p><h4>Have You Ever Experienced Peer Pressure?</h4><p>You've probably had a friend try to pressure you at some point. It's not a fun feeling, especially when you really like the people who are pressuring you. How did you respond?</p><h4>How to Handle Peer Pressure</h4><p>One way to handle peer pressure is to choose your friends wisely. Find friends who have the same values as you do. These friends will be less likely to pressure you.</p><p>If you have a friend who is pressuring you, wait until the two of you are alone. Talk to them about how they are making you feel. If they are a true friend, they'll listen to you and stop pressuring you to do things that make you uncomfortable.</p>