"B" is for Bad at Getting into Harvard

~Saturday Stories~

Typical Norie: "This was a common occurrence among the overachievers at King High. None of us could do everything that was expected of its brightest and best. ... I was right in there with them, scrambling to get the A's they were always telling us we had to earn to be worthwhile human beings- or at least to be better than each other."

Anything less than an "A-" is failure. That's what Norie has been told. Many, many times. So when a cheating ring breaks out amid the other overachievers, Norie is stuck. Isn't it okay to get one answer key to a chemistry pop quiz? Especially if the other choice leaves no chance of getting into Harvard?

"B" is for Bad at Getting into Harvard goes way into the pressured-to-be-perfect topic and shows that sometimes being the best isn't worth "whatever it takes." Norie's dad and King High itself create so much competition and stress she doesn't know what to do. At times like that, it helps to get quiet and listen to God. And have a group that supports you and prays with you all the way.

Stress is real. Cheating is real. And there's more that can be done than just ignoring it, or being pressured by it, or letting oneself cheat every once in a while.

B is for Bad at Getting into Harvard is the second in the Raise the Flag series. The first is Don't Count on Homecoming Queen. The rest are I Only Binge on Holy Hungers, Do I have to Paint You a Picture, Friends Don't Let Friends Date Jason, and When Is Perfect, Perfect Enough?.

For more on Nancy Rue, visit her website, Facebook page, and blogs for tweens and teens.

But everyone else is doing it...

~Tuesday Thoughts~

Two weeks ago the Starting School mini-series kicked off with “Homework? Maybe later…” Last week the post was “Never quite reaching ‘perfect’”.  Today’s going to be about that awful thing called peer pressure. 


Peer pressure is JUST NOT FUN. When the kids around you are whispering about you-know-what or you see at least half a dozen kids cheating on that test, it’s hard to say “no; I’ll go against the flow”. Pressure can come in different ways: the “everyone-else-is” way or the “you-better-or-else” way or the “if-you’re-my-friend” way. It can be subtle or it can be screaming in our ears. We can be the only ones thinking it or others can be pushing us around.

Whatever way, peer pressure is peer pressure. And the easiest thing is to give in. But we shouldn't.


The Narrow and Wide Gates
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

Through Him we can overcome this problem. That is good news.

How about you? Do you ever want to give in to the pressure? What are some other ways you can think of that peers can pressure us? Do you have a story about how you said “no”? Please share.