In today’s colleges, students face rough decisions everyday. Whether it’s deciding whether to stay in another Friday and do homework, whether three weeks is too long to wear the same pair of socks, whether to ask out that cute girl, the one who totally watched Firefly, man, I mean come on, I can’t stay in another Friday, I’m going to die alone[1], difficult choices are everywhere. So, desperate for advice, attention, and social acceptance, many students rely on others’ decision-making skills instead of their own. They allow their friends, roommates, and that one guy who posts on their blog to make the tough choices so they don’t have to. Unfortunately, this can lead to peer pressure, which, for one student, has lead to regrets and a life-long addiction to non-smoking.
“I used to smoke all the time,” says Student X[2]. “But then I used to see those ads on TV sometimes. You know, the awesome ones with hot people my age telling me not to smoke. I started thinking—hey, maybe I should stop smoking. Then there was this survey in a magazine I bought[3] that said 89% of girls prefer guys who don’t smoke. I’ve always kinda wanted a girlfriend, so I thought maybe quitting smoking would help.”
So, X started hanging out with “friends” who were also non-smokers. They hung out and played Rock Band, listened to music, and did other non-smoking activities.
“It was cool for a while. But then I realized I really missed my old friend,” says X. “You know. Nicotine. So I just mentioned casually that I was gonna go out for a cigarette break. They freaked out, told me that cigarettes were bad for me, that I was gonna get lung cancer, and that secondhand smoke also kills. They said that smokers smelled like death and killed babies, and that if I wanted to stay friends with them, I had to keep quitting. I didn’t know what to do, so I just went along with it. I didn’t want to lose my friends.”
X even started dating a non-smoker. “Yeah, every time we walked past a smoker, or if someone mentioned the word, or if it just came into her head, she’d say ‘Aren’t you glad you aren’t smoking?’ And, I like breasts, so I just said yes. But secretly, I would have done anything for a smoke.” He sighs. “We broke up. She said I wasn’t non-smoking enough. I lost touch with the rest of the guys after that. They would stage protests where they would stand at the designated smoking areas and not smoke, to demonstrate that non-smoking was better. But I had homework, so . . .” He shrugs.
Bu things didn’t end there. Lost and alone, X sought guidance from a higher power—a Christian student group, where he now enjoys the complete loss of power and self-esteem.
“Yeah, so everything’s great now!” says X. “I’ve got a new girlfriend and new friends. I’m still a non-smoker, but that’s only because I’ve learned that my body is a magnificent temple that deserves respect.” He shows his right hand. “Which is why I have this promise ring. My girlfriend and I are waiting until marriage, because we love each other so much! Everything’s just great.[4]”
