(February 10, 2000) — Multiple studies have shown that the number one concern of high school students is the way they are viewed by fellow peers. Everyone wants to be accepted into some kind of a group and form friendships. If you meet the right people, the friendship can be beneficial. However, getting officially initiated into some selected groups can be insidious. “I remember one time I wanted to fit into this ‘popular’ crowd. We went to a party and I was heavily pressured to try some things that I knew weren’t beneficial to my body,” confessed sophomore Tim Turner. “It’s really hard to say no to these things when you’re pressured through people you want to be accepted by.” Many students who face this same predicament feel alike. However, statistics show that only about 20-40% percent of teenagers actually accept the proposed challenges. Recent studies have also shown that there is an increase in positive peer pressure. Positive peer pressure, such as friends convincing you to do better in school, is not publicized as widely as negative peer pressure. However, the positive peer influence is more dominant at Clark. “I haven’t experienced any peer pressure that is degrading to my health in any way at Clark,” commented freshman Gloria Pak. “In fact, I’ve noticed throughout the years that [negative] peer pressure is slowly diminishing.” “Me and my friends pressure each other to do well in school. We also constantly remind each other not to try or do anything we will regret later on. We all keep each other accountable, and it seems to keep us on track,” says sophomore Gyuhee Kim.