McCluer North High School - Polaris Yearbook (Florissant, MO)

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116 Underclass Kim Keener 11 Bridger Kenney 11 Jerry Keeney 11 Rob Kenney 11 Vince Keil 11 Don Kiely 10 Dawn Keith 11 Karen Keller 11 Marls Keller 10 Andrea Kennard 10 Carol Kenesey 10 Paula Kennedy 10 Maris Kennert 11 Kenny Kershaw 10 Mark Kertmann 11 Fred Kielham 11 lf so, you were nor alone. Most students ar McCiuer North were undoubredly pressured af one time or another. Peer pressure was caused by feens trying fo fit in with the group and be one of the crowd; peer pres- sure was also competition berween socal groups and friends. When asked about some common peer pressures, most North students agreed on “vandalism, fashion, dating, and smoking. Most vandalism in the community oc cured because of a dare. To prove he was not a chicken, a person would break a window, destroy public property, or even steal just fo be one of the ‘'gang.’’ Some pressures were made jokingly, such as te- peeing a house, bur others were more se- vere, causing innocent people fo ger hurt. Besides vandalizing, fashion and styles played a major role i n peer pressure. In order fo fit in with a certain group, a person would have fo follow just the right dress code, whether it was the preppy lool, with alligators and polos, the casual look, includ- ing jean jackets and a pair of goon boots, or the punk rocs styles with dyed hair and safety pins. As the fashion trend changes from year to year, the students at McCiuer North have followed right along with if, mostly as a result of peer pressure. the ‘‘dating scene. “’ Friends often tried ro fix a person up, which caused him fo feel pushed into a relationshio he may nor have felt ready for. One student said, ‘There has always been a lor of pressure abour going out with girls. If your friends are dating, they think you should date also.’ Dating in high school should be by personal choice, bur af times peer pressure interfered with that op- tion. Probably the most common of the peer pressures was smoking. Most students thar smoke agree thar they started because all of their friends were doing if. ‘! began smoking because if was the cool thing ro do at the time, and because all my friends were doing it. | just didn’t want fo be differ- ent,”” replied one McCluer North student. Unfortunately, peer pressure influenced the magority of smokers to start their habit. Peer pressure played an important role in the life of a typical reenager. The desire to fit in with the group caused many teens to do things they usually would not have done. If you have been pressured by your peers, you are nor alone, and the friends who have pressured you against your will probably aren't the “true friends’’ you thought them to be.

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| Weve Gor [he Music In Us Music! Ir was everywhere. We listened in the car, house, and (thank goodness for modern technology) we could carry high- volume AM-FM Stereo Tape players with us af all times. Music! Something to have for company, relaxation, fo fill up time, and just for back- ground sound. Sometimes we may nor have even paid attention, buf if the music stopped, we knew something was missing! Diversity was the key word, and like MN students, music followed suit. K WK, K-SHE, KADI, KS 94, KSLQ, FM 100, WIL, KMOX FM. Something to satisfy even the finickiest of tastes. Rocks, Soft rock, contemporary, coun- fry or a mixture of all. ‘'! have my radio ser for KWK, 101 FM, KADI and KSLQ! I’m flexi- ble- it just depends on the mood I'm in or if | like the song,’’ commented Senior Cathy Moser. Janet Otten said that music was a way fo express herself. Wharever the station or type of music, it was a part of life. For North students, that was no exceprion. Using headphones to keep from bothering orhers, Sophomore Tom Lohman listens fo a new album. With only a little bir of money, Senior Darrell Ditto has to choose berween records. ¢ ao ‘ Underdass 115

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Peer pressure can influence Eric Hogan's career deci- sion. One of the most common peer pressures found ar North is smoking. Kurt Kostecisi 10 Larry Kostechi 11 Lisa Kroft 11 Kara Krerzer 10 Scort Krerzer 11 Ed Krerzler 10 Karin Kroclser 10 Todd Kron 10 Diane Kronmueller 10 John Kruszsa 10 Kristi Kuhl 10 Brian Kuhiman 11 Jackie Kurlowslsi 11 Tom Kurth 11 Roch LaBruyere 11 Kelly Lael 10 Underclass 117