What is the most influential factor in a young person’s life?

Being only twenty-four years old, I have always been observent of the world around me. In my opinion, the most influential factor in a younger person; let's say a teenager, would be classmates. I grew up in various different areas around the east coast. Wherever I lived, the influences always seemed to be the same. Teenagers are more concerned about impressing their friends or their girlfriends more than they are concerned about anything else. If they fall into a less achieving crowd, they will of course follow that path as well as try to upstage eachother. I have fallen victim to this as well. When I was in my teen years, all that I had ever thought about was impressing girls. I have grown out of this by now, however some people carry those characteristics on into adulthood. Aside from friends being the ultimate factor in influencing our youth, I think television plays a huge part as well. We grow up imitating what we enjoy on television. I can recall a time where I thought I was a ninja turtle. Imitation carrys over to adolescence as well. The shows they put out nowadays teach them violence and cursing. Some adolescents don't get involved with things like that; they are prone to imitate something more toward their liking. Everyone grows up liking different things. I think that influence is infinged upon them by their parents. Do I think parents are the most influential? The answer is no, I don't. The majority of children choose their own paths based on their own beliefs in adolescence. In conclusion, I feel that the real factor is when children reach their teenage yeas and learn from the crowds they are drawn to as well as the shows they watch.