The Careful Girl demonstrates how young people get misguided by their friends. Unlike Hanifa, Trisha appears to have everything a young girl could desire: a rich mother, a beautiful home with entertainment facilities, rich friends with cars, beauty and freedom. The temptation of Hanifa to join Trisha for a ride with two boys in a sports car is almost irresistible. Fortunately for her, Hanifa successfully resists peer pressure and stays behind. What starts off as a joyride turns tragic when Trisha is enticed to take alcohol and ends up spending the night with Johan. Little does she know that her irresponsible behaviour has exposed her to HIV infection. Hanifa avoids the same fate by being careful and making rational choices and decisions.