Straight Talk TNT

Of course not. She should ask her friends to join her during the day for hiking or biking. I’ve straightened up now, but in high school I had some really nice friends in the “straight edge” movement. They were always saying, “Why don’t you stop?” or “You were so ridiculous last night when you were drunk.”

I’ve never wanted or needed drugs or alcohol, however, the majority of my friends do. At parties they may poke fun at me, but they also respect my choices. If your daughter simply says, “I don’t drink or smoke,” most friends will understand.

I have few friends not attracted to drugs and alcohol. I fit in by being the designated driver because I have no desire to get another minor-in-possession charge. There’s no straight edge movement at my school. Lots of kids even come to class high.

Your daughter sounds like she’s running instead of telling her friends the truth. I have friends that smoke, but they know I don’t, so they don’t pressure me. By telling the truth she might not feel as distant.

More difficult than fitting in is knowing what NOT to fit into. When I started high school I got involved with the wrong crowd. But finding one “good” friend is all you need to make the transition. Volunteering is ideal for meeting new friends.

I used to disapprove of my friends’ partying, but I’ve accepted it more as I’ve aged. Our work day is set up to promote drinking: people want to relax because their work is unsatisfying. Most of my friends would rather release tension through drinking than through physical games. It’s all about the social scene now — or less fun things like running and biking. Gone are the friendly pickup games we used to enjoy.

The “straight edge” movement really helped me. I felt isolated for not attending my friends’ parties. At the end of senior year I realized how many friends I might have made if only I’d been willing to drink. In college it’s worse. Students forget it’s even possible to have fun without alcohol. My straight edge and more religious friends are a lifeline. If you don’t like straight edge music, though, it’s harder to get involved since the movement developed in punk rock and is now primarily in hardcore. Some militant hardliners condemn those who don’t follow a straight lifestyle, but mostly the movement is about empowerment and being true to yourself.