Peer pressure is something we all know about, talk about, learn about, and most experience some form of it. There is positive or negative pressure. When most people talk about negative peer pressure, they mean drinking, smoking, and hanging out with the wrong groups. A lot of people succumb to peer pressure without even knowing.

I have talked to people before about my experiences with peer pressure, and they ask, why? They tell me I am a smart, funny, independent, handsome kid, but I still don't believe this since the day it left their mouths. I thought peer pressure was for the nerds, and weak kids in our school. I was wrong.

I probably worry more than anyone about how, or what people see me as. I want to be seen as a respected, truthful, and trusted teen. It seems I want this so badly that I am in a sense becoming the very thing I swore to not to become..., a politician.

A politician because, I am always trying to please everyone, and say the right thing. I agree with people that make no sense, or that I totally don't agree with. When one of the so called 'popular' kids comes up to me and talks, I am suddenly his or her best friend. I tell them all the secrets of other kids that sadly befriended me. Why? To gain the respect of the 'higher', and loose respect of the 'lower'? No. To be cool and liked be them, and not the others? No. To gain power? Yes.

Why do I crave power? Doesn't everybody? Is it my nature? I think that I think that more power will lead to more respect. While I sit here listening to my Revenge of the Sith soundtrack I am reminded of Palpatine's quote, "All who gain power are afraid to loose it." Wanting more is a rough definition of a Sith. Wanting more so I can be successful seems even worse. Being successful leads to respect, which is what I seek the most.

I tried so hard on my first few blogs, I wanted them to be successful, be the most read, most responded to, even have my blog be one of the featured blogs. Now I know that this isn't what it is all about, I don't care if any of you respond to my blogs, heck, even read them! When I say that I don't mean to put any of you down, I am truly thankful for all of you out there. Writing this blog has indeed been the most eyes opening to myself. It finally comes down to this; I don't need others to respect me, if I respect myself, because I can't please everybody. I don't respect myself very much. If I can learn how to respect myself and not seek it so badly from other people, I think I will be in pretty good shape. Thank you.

May The Force Be With You, Always