As you grow older, you’ll be faced with some challenging decisions — like whether to cut class or try cigarettes. Making decisions on your own is hard enough, but when other people get involved and try to pressure you one way or another, it can be even harder. People who are at your age, like your classmates, are called peers. When they try to influence how you act, to get you to do something, it’s called peer pressure.

Peers can have a positive influence on each other. Maybe another student in your science class taught you an easy way to remember the planets in the solar system. Maybe you got others excited about your new favorite book, and now everyone’s reading it. These are examples of how peers positively influence each other.

Sometimes peers influence each other in negative ways. For example, a few kids in school might try to get you to cut class with them; your soccer friend might try to convince you to be mean to another player and never pass him the ball.

It is tough to be the only one who says “no” to peer pressure, but you can do it. Paying attention to your own feelings and beliefs about what is right and wrong can help you know the right thing to do.

You’ve probably had a parent or teacher advising you to “choose your friends wisely”. Peer pressure is a big reason why they say this. If you choose friends who don’t cut class, smoke cigarettes, or lie to their parents, then you probably won’t do these things either, even if other kids do.

If you continue to face peer pressure and you’re finding it difficult to handle, talk to someone you trust. Don’t feel guilty if you’ve made a mistake or two.

The "best years of your life"? Maybe not, but you can learn to make the most of your high school days.

1. Learn to appreciate small things. Whether it's having a computer, having friends, having a good supply of food, a bed to sleep on, family that loves you, having a decent education or simply being born in this world.【小题1】Be happy, and life will reward you. Remember that these are the last few years you will be able to enjoy yourself without having to worry about the responsibility of an adult.

2. Choose your friends wisely. Unlike what many articles state, you don't have to be popular and have a gazillion friends to be happy. 【小题2】Try to have friends that like you who you are, not just because you are wearing a certain brand of shoes or something like that.

3. Be sociable. 【小题3】 While you only need 4 or 5 close friends, that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to meet new people. Participating gives you something to do instead of sitting bored at home and wallowing in self-pity.

4. 【小题4】There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your hard work pay off in the form of A's and B's (but mainly A's). This also sets you up to get into a college you want to go to, which in turn prepares you for a career you will enjoy, improving your quality of life in the future. You'll get cheap car insurance as well if you have at least a B or A average.

5. Work at a job you can enjoy. Working is a great way to gain experience and to meet other people.【小题5】This will look great on your resume. If you can't find work, especially in this hard economic time, volunteer or make your own job.

As today’s high schoolers are facing too much homework, sports teams and clubs and high-rising college costs, many people are rethinking the idea of high schoolers working. Are there still benefits of having a job in high school? The answer is yes.

When I was 14 years old, my mother suggested that I get a job in order to pay for college. Unhappy with my sporadic (零星的) babysitting work, I told my mother that, no matter what job I got, I’d never be able to cover college costs on a high school worker’s pay.

My mother smiled and told me that there were plenty of other reasons why I should get a job apart from just the paycheck (工资支票). So I found myself finally accepting a job as a swim instructor and lifeguard at my town’s public pool. I ended up working part-time at the pool through all four years of high school.

Not everything about the job was marvelous. Actually, there were times I hated jumping in the pool on cold mornings and lecturing kids on their bad manners, but, like my mother said, I got many other benefits from the job besides the paycheck.

At my job, I made lots of new friends, more than I had made in high school. I also learnt lots of skills including CPR (心肺复苏法) training. I was also able to use my work experience to stand out from other job applicants in college and get a paid research job as a freshman in college.

For many high school students, there are many benefits of having a job. Not only will high school jobs give you a way to make some money, meet new people, and develop some skills, you can also use your teenage jobs to get yourself a better job in college.