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THINKING ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS

Have you ever thought about why your friends are your friends? Many times our friends can be quite similar to ourselves. But sometimes the saying, "opposites attract," applies as well. This is an activity that will help you think about who you choose as friends and why.

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PART 1: CHOOSING FRIENDS

Think about each statement below carefully. What do you want your friends to be? Then, decide how important the statement is to you and drag it into the appropriate category.

Very important
Important

Somewhat Important
Not very important
Not important
at all
I want my friends to be considered "cool".
I want my friends to be able to agree about what is important and what isn't.
I want my friends to be the same religion as me.
I want my friends to watch the same TV shows I watch.
I want my friends to listen to the same music I listen to.
I want my friends to be older than me.
I want my friends to be as smart as I am.
I want my friends to like the same activities I like.
I want my friends to have the same heritage as me.
I want my friends to be from the most popular group at school.
I want my friends to be same age as me.

Think about your responses and what they tell you about how you choose and value friends. Then, check with your teacher before moving on to Part 2.

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PART 2: THE ROLE OF FRIENDS IN YOUR LIFE

Choose or type in answers to describe how you think or feel.

1) When I have free time, I like to spend it:

By
myself
With one or two close friends With members of my family With a large group of friends
2) When you go on a family outing (picnic, ball game, movie, etc.) would you prefer to:
3) a. Do you have (or would you like to have) a friend to whom you could confide secrets?

b. If you answered "yes," what kinds of secrets would you confide to your friend and what kind would you keep to yourself?
4) Would you ever lie to protect a friend?


5) Would you ever tell someone else a secret that a friend has confided in you?
6) Would you ever break a promise you made to a friend?

Think about your responses and what they tell you about the role of friends in your life. Then, wait to move on to Part 3 until your teacher says it's okay.

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PART 3: FRIENDS AND THEIR INFLUENCE
ON YOUR DECISIONS

You may have friends (or people you want to be your friends) who want to do something you don't want to do, but you think they might like you better if you go along with it. What sort of things might you do just because your friends want to?

Decide if you agree or disagree with each statement, and then check "yes" or "no."


I would go to a movie I don't particularly want to see.
I would go over to another student's house for the afternoon.
I would try smoking just one or two puffs of a cigarette.
I would take a sip of beer.
I would refuse to go to a friend's party if my other friends didn't want to go.
I would cut my hair in a certain style if my friends did the same.
I would join in making fun of a shy student.

Think about your selections and what they tell you about how your friends influence your decisions. Then, wait to move onto the next screen until your teacher says it's okay.

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YOU DECIDE!

A group of your friends is smoking or using smokeless tobacco and they want you to try it with them. What would you do? Why?

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ACTIVITY
COMPLETE!