I feel myself becoming deeply moved by these short but personal stories that I feel encouraged to share my own. I lost an entire friend group in middle school because I told them I didn't want to try weed and that I thought it wasn't right for them to be smoking at school. What hurt me the most was the way they twisted the situation to make it seem like I was judging their life or character when I just said that because I didn't want them to get in big trouble. It was at this time that I truly felt alone.
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motivation through conversation.
Being a teenager is difficult in many different ways that many adults don't want to acknowledge at times. The main reason my addiction started was from the stress I felt at home all the time. The constant pressure of being the best for my parents both physically and academically. It is so draining and when I tried to talk to them they told me I didn't even have the slightest idea about what real challenges are. But we as teens all know that isn't true. We all face challenges everyday and continue to push through...
I started smoking in middle school because I genuinely felt like my friends wouldn't want to hang out with me anymore if I didn't. Looking back now, I feel sad for the middle school me who just wanted to fit in and be appreciated. For those struggling with peer pressure and the life of a teen, in general, just know that you don't have to prove anything to others that don't recognize your worth. True friends will appreciate you for the way you are and take care of you.
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