Peer pressure, scheduling overload and identity crises make high school an unbearable time for some teenagers. Falling in with the wrong crowd leads to underage drinking, promiscuity and drug addiction. Even academically advanced students find themselves overwhelmed, ready to throw away a successful grade for the chance to be well-liked by popular cliques. If there is anything to be learned, it is the value of individuality. Staying true to yourself, and not what peers or popular trends dictate, will help you resolve conflicts later in life.
By remaining independent, even if this means going against the grain, a student will be able to face any challenge without falling apart. This does not suggest rebellion just for the sake of being different. No one appreciates a rabble rouser causing trouble. However, if a high school group exerts undue influence, demanding drugs or sex in exchange for being well-liked, the confident student is able to say no to such demands. It is better to be alone than an addict, wasting time that prepares a student for college and a better future.
The point of high school is to develop rational skills needed in the real world. After receiving a diploma, students may move on to an undergraduate degree program, enlist in the armed services or have a full-time job. Those avenues are not possible without making the most of the first step. Parents need to let their child know that as a parent who was once a teenager themself, they will be their and are willing to help ease the pressure on the child.