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You don't have to ditch them. You have the power to make your own decisions. Would you rather be seen as a follower or leader? If they think you're wack for not doing what they do then they're not real friends. Do what's right because you might regret things later on. – Denise, 15, New York

Hey, Roni. It hurts to have friends that are trying to take you down a bad road. Believe me, I know – been there, done that, got picked up by the cops and had to call my mom to come get me. Do you really wanna go there? It’s not nearly as fun as you might think. So the next time one of your friends does something you don’t approve of, be nice, be firm, and say no. Sorry, I’ll sit this one out, you guys call me when you get your head on straight. If you go down the right road, maybe some of them will wise up and follow you. The ones who do, those are your real friends. I hope every last one of them follows you. – Gretta, 15, Indiana

Let's be serious here, Roni. Your future is super important, right? You shouldn't let the bad influence friends ruin it. Go step by step to slowly get rid of them. When they ask to hang out with you, make an excuse like, "Sorry, I have to finish some work," or something like that. Meanwhile, you can make some new friends. There are a lot of great girls there that would probably love to be your friend. Good luck! – Abby, 13, New York

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