Cause & Effect Essay

Brianna Armstrong

English 1-Block 1

Ms. McKoy

21 November 2013

Focus on the Positive

Frankie Catalfumo was just a regular high school student when he decided that he wanted to make a change in his community. Living in West Palm Beach, Florida, Frankie saw that he actually use positive peer influence to push his community together. . The Everglades, located in Florida, was highly endangered; it was the home to many wildlife plants and animals. Frankie saw this as a perfect opportunity to make a change. His first intentions were to raise money for the Everglades. He wanted to host a walk a thon; but he couldn’t get any one to join. He created a presentation and showed it around school and the community. His plan was to showed them how much of the Everglades were destroyed. Frankie Catalfumo’s efforts have shown how positive peer influence has taught teenagers to stand up for what they believe in, motivate their selves in difficult situations, and has shown peers have a bigger influence then parents on behavior.

In the article “Green Persuasion”, Frankie thought, “A little peer pressure might help-of the positive kind.” Frankie was determined that to get the support that he needed to improve the Everglades. Somehow he just knew that his peers wanted to speak up and join him cause, but they were too afraid of what others would think. He made them feel as if the Everglades were their own home and it was being hopelessly rod.  Soon, many began to see and feel what Frankie meant, and they became more passionate for his cause. This is away that positive peer influence has taught teenagers to stand up for what they believe in. The Reach Out Organization claims that, “Being an individual means taking ownership and responsibility for what you do and how you think. Being an individual means that you can be a valued part of comfortable and welcoming group” (peer pressure by Reach Out). Reach Out is basically saying that if you want to be part of a specific group you have to be in control of your own actions and be preparing for the outcomes-whether good or bad. Even if you may not notice it, your actions are seen by others. Peers feed off of one another like bacteria; without each other they’ll be lost.

Everyone needs motivation. Frankie Catalfumo’s idea dug in the minds of teenagers who craved the need for achieve and change. In the article Peer Pressure, “peer pressure can be a positive influence and help challenge or motivate you to do your best.” This quote is saying that, teenager love challenges and a chance to prove that they are smart and capable to achieve the impossible. Frankie had a decrease amount of judgment throughout his project. He never judged someone just off what they looked like, or who they were hanging with. He waited for their honest opinion of his improvement of the Everglades, and responded with a simple “Thank You” or “Here’s more information”. Also stated in the article, Peer Pressure, “respecting someone else’s choice may help them to respect yours. Remember that you don’t have to agree with their actions.” This quote is basically saying that, treat others how you would want to be treated and the results will be very satisfying. 

 Noah Goldstein claims that, “the 50 scientifically proven ways to be persuasive, is through positive peer influence.” This quote is a perfect example on why peer influence is a very powerful source. Catalfumo and several others stated throughout this essay were not afraid to take one small idea, and make it to something that could be heard all around the global. They showed their peers what could be done if they took a chance to change something they many don’t care about. He made it effective for people to see that positive peer influence can not only be seen as a powerful source in school, but as a way to improve the health of their environment.

Throughout his journey, Frankie Catalfumo, had most of his support coming from peers instead of his parents and other adults. A peer has a bigger influence then parents, and other adults, on the behavior of teenagers. According to Diane Kampf, “Researchers differ over whether parents or a student’s peers have more influence over that student’s behavior. Some that peers have more influence than parents in shaping children’s behavior” (Demand Media. Does Peer Pressure Highly Influence Students?). Basically, Kampf is saying that the relationship between a peer and a peer is somewhat stronger than the relationship between a peer and their parent. Kampf also states that, “As children grow, the importance of friends’ increases” (Demand Media. Does Peer Pressure Highly Influence Students?). This quote refers back to paragraph two; where it states that teenagers must be responsible for their actions. The older teenagers get the more they will realize who they really want to be friends with, and what their actual goals, values, and interests are.  

Peer Influence is a powerful source seen worldwide. For several, the first thing that comes to someone’s mind when peer influence is mention is negative thoughts. Frankie Catalfumo used the power of positive peer influence to change the way that his peers saw and thought of our planet. Although, there are several other ways that actions like those can result in positive peer influences. These type of actions can and will affect future generations. It is our job as peers to assure that the influences that we cause on others aren’t negative. If you feel that your ‘friends’ are pressuring you into doing something that you know is wrong, push pause, and think about how it will affect you in the future. Remember the choice is yours, so focus on the positive.