Peer Pressure: Everybody's Doing It

Disclaimer: A serious issue is discussed, please be respectful to others.


Note: There is both negative and positive peer pressure present in society. For obvious reasons (the consequences) I will be discussing negative peer pressure.


Peer pressure is an issue that is present in everyone's life at some point. To start off I will state that I personally feel, being in high school, peer pressure is at an all-time high. I do not want my readers to do something that will haunt them for the years to come. Today, I challenge you to take charge of who you are and rise against peer pressure.


I want to share my inspiration for this post. My friend, an innocent girl, was pressured to do something that she normally would not have done. I felt the need to help her, but also to use her as an example to those who may currently be affected by peer pressure. No, I am not here to point out her flaws and call out her mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes and there is nothing we can do after the deed is done; we can only hope to avoid these situations.


First, allow me to define peer pressure.

Peer pressure- Social pressure by members of ones peer group to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted.

The word that stood out to me was "accepted". The need to feel accepted is a common theme in peer pressure-related incidents. I have noticed this while interacting with my own peers. Some things do not add up, and I feel peer pressure is to blame. Innocent people taking reprehensible actions. Why? Why must we feel the need to conform to the values of others? Acceptance. I acknowledge that opposing the opinions of your peers can be difficult, but it can be done. By standing up for what you believe in you may be setting an example to someone who is feeling the same way. It is important to be who you truly are and to do what you feel is right for you.


I have written my suggestion on how to combat against peer pressure. Understand my solution is not the best, as I am basing this entire post on my personal experiences. My only go-to rule is to ask myself a series of questions. What do I stand for? What are the consequences? How can it affect me and my future? What will my parent/guardian say if I go through with this? These can seem silly at the moment, but could be the difference between a good and bad decision.


You can definitely learn a lot from peer pressure. Perhaps that "friend" pressuring you into drugs was not a friend to begin with. In my life I have cut out several people due to their ignorance and inability to respect my values. These dangerous friendships had no place in my life with goals of success in mind. However, I still have many friends that both affect me and are affected by peer pressure. I feel it is my duty to attempt to help them regain control of their life. I do not want to sound preachy, but just know everyone fits in where they belong. It is good to be surrounded by those who share the same interests and values as you. Great friendships will encounter problems along the way, but never should they be about pressuring you into something you're uncomfortable with.


For those of you affected by peer pressure I want you to know

• You are loved
• You are unique
• You are beautiful/handsome
• You are worth it
• You are not alone

For those of you who have succumbed to peer pressure and are facing the consequences and are going through a rough time also know

• You are loved
• You are unique
• You are beautiful/handsome
• You are worth it
• You are not alone

I know what it feels like to be alone. I have been in some situations that you may be dealing with. Some I am proud to say I strayed away from, while others served as a lesson when I acted in the incorrect way. I am concluding with a list of hotlines that specialize in certain situations you and your friends may be going through. Here you can find help. Unfortunately some of these hotlines are limited to certain locations. With little effort you can find a hotline that can drastically change you and your friends' lives for the better.

Lights, Camera, Action: The Basic Necessities to Becoming an Actor!

Acting has always been a part of my life. I've watched hundreds of movies growing up. I idolized the work of Will Smith, Denzel Washington, and many others. At the age of six I began to take acting classes. Three years ago I decided to take my hobby and turn it into a profession. The first year was tough as I had some struggle, but I have worked a few times. I can't release my stage name, but I have worked in some commercials you may have seen. With my personal experiences I can help you start your acting career. Sorry to all the thespians, because I'm focusing on the film, TV, and commercial aspect of acting.

Step 1: Take acting classes!

If you want to be an actor you definitely need classes in order to keep yourself in great condition. However, there are a few examples of famous actors who had never taken an acting class, yet were discovered. For example, Jennifer Lawrence was discovered while walking with her mom in New York City. The chances of being discovered without actually acting is highly unlikely. Please, take some classes. There are many types of acting courses. Some are

• Method 
• Audition
• Commercial
• Scene study
• On-camera
• Cold reading
• Improvisation
• Vocal

among others. There are a lot of classes, all of them can help you in some way. 

Step 2: Get headshots!

Headshots are a marketing tool that is very necessary in an actor's career. It is an 8 x 10 photo that displays who you are and your look. It is the first thing that a casting director sees as you audition. What your headshot looks like can mean callback or rejection. Although they can be pricey it is recommended to get headshots at a professional photographer. I don't mean the department store photos or your uncle who just got a new camera, a professional that specializes in acting headshots. Typically headshots can cost anywhere from $200-$1,000+. You can start with the cheaper, but I recommend increasing the quality (and price) of the headshot as you rise through the ranks. A great resource to find your next headshots is through Reproductions.

Optional to some: Get your entertainment work permit!

In some states, like the major acting states of California and New York, minors under the age of 18 need something called the entertainment work permit. It is necessary so that you can work on bigger picture films and commercials. A link to all the details will be here. The process of getting the permit can be tiresome, like it was for me. You need three things: a report card, your doctor to fill out a physical, and your school to fill out another sheet. It is not an ordinary work permit, because the entertainment industry is a whole different thing. At this stage I was already anxious to get my career started and the long waits did not help. Don't worry, you're almost there. 

Step 3: Get an agent/Sign up on casting websites!

For some getting an agent is really hard. For others it is easy to attract many people willing to market them. I can't speak on behalf of the agents, because I never had one. What I can tell you is to avoid scams. An acting agent should never tell you where to take classes, get headshots, or take money upfront. An agent will only get paid when you get paid, 20% to be exact. Personally I use casting websites, and will continue until I get an agent. Some of the ones I use are Backstage, LA Casting, and Actors Access. However, it can be pricey to maintain these prices combined, but included with these websites you get resources and can apply to jobs as you go. 

I hope this article helped those of you confused where you stand as an actor. May you be successful in your career! Thanks for reading!

Google: Advocating Diversity

After reading an article by the New York Times about Google attempting to advocate gender diversity in their employee work force a series of thoughts ran through my mind. Why are they just now realizing their bias ways? What events led up to this realization? What do the superiors at Google feel about the subject? I decided to examine the article very closely in order to establish my further opinion.


First off, I would like to commend Google for their efforts to improve the diversity of their employees. It takes a lot of honor to admit your mistakes and strive for improvement. I am on Google's side, which is pro-diversity. I personally believe a job applicant should be judged by their skills (among other important information), steering away from the race and gender factor. As stated in the New York Times article, "Google's leaders say they are unhappy about the firm's poor gender diversity..." I'm glad that Google was one of the first to realize the situation. Since the statement released, a snowball effect in which companies that have the same predicament are eager to diversify their employees. Google has set an example and companies are joining the (positive) bandwagon.


Many statistics show that men are more likely to be hired than women. Especially in the tech industry men are the predominant gender working. Since the article focuses on Google, the New York Times states, "Over all, seven out of 10 people who work at Google are male." I am a strong believer that women should be equal to men humans should be equal to other humans. Throughout history I have learned women were often disregarded in society. They have fought for their rights and deserve to be treated equally. Although some rights were gained, some did not change. You would think that with our modern-day morals and principles that the discrimination would be eradicated. To be honest, these types of discrimination might never stop existing, but with every small step, we can set an example for the next generation.  

http://www.painetworks.com/photos/jw/jw6736.JPG