The courage to be yourself : true stories by teens about cliques, conflicts, and overcoming peer pressure

Cassandra is hassled by her friends for sitting with the “wrong” kids at lunch. Jennifer gets harassed because she’s overweight. Dwan’s own family taunts her for not being “black enough.” Yen is teased for being Chinese; Jamel for not smoking marijuana. Yet all find the strength to face their conflicts and the courage to be themselves. In 26 first-person stories, real teens write about their lives with searing honesty. They will inspire young readers to reflect on their own lives, work through their problems, and learn who they really are. In 26 first-person stories, real teens write about their lives and how hard it is to be themselves--especially when they're bullied, picked on, pressured, excluded, and disrespected. They ask tough questions, like "Why does everyone have such a problem with me?" and "Should I change myself to fit in?" Maybe you've asked yourself these questions Table of Contents......Page 9 Introduction......Page 12 The Stories......Page 18 Glossary......Page 136 Looking for a Specific Topic?......Page 138 About Educators for Social Responsibility......Page 142 About Youth Communication......Page 144 Further Reading and Resources......Page 148 Dwan Carter, 17, is proud to be African American.