ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PEER PRESSURE

1.       What is peer?

Peer is a person or set of people who are of the same age or have the same social status.

Joanne J. Dankai, 12; Educare Chosen High School, Jos

A person who you are on the same age with.

Ejimofor Blessing, 17; Erudite Comprehensive Secondary School, Katsina, Katsina State

Peer can be your friends in school or class mates or the people who you are closer or who you walk together with.

Christiana Adubasim, 16; St. Peter’s College, Potiskum, Bauchi State

Peers are group of persons known to be friends, both known with age and the same social status.

Ojoma Umaru, 16; Government Secondary School, Anglo-Jos, Plateau State

Peer can be your friends, classmates, age mates etc. They are those friends you can trust.

Kayoed Matthew, 12; Angels International College, Jos

A peer is someone who belongs to the same age, social, professional group as another person.

Joy Peter, 17; Government Secondary School, Hwolshe

2.      What do you understand by peer pressure?

It a social pressure on somebody to adopt a type of behaviour, dressing, or attitude in order to be accepted as part of the group.

Oyindamola O. Oludoju, 11; Educare Chosen High School, Jos

Peer pressure is a group of people of the same age coming together to pursue one goal

Nwagboo Ekwutos, 14; Katsina Diocesan Community School, Katsina

Peer pressure is a force among group of friends that would cause either negative or positive influences in someone’s life.

Chukwu Nwosu, 16; St. Peter’s College, Potiskum, Bauchi State

It is the influence by instigation from friends to another fellow to accept their character and behaviour.

Nanrebet Dadet, 19; Government Secondary School, Hwolshe

Peer pressure can be said to be that strong attachment or influence that the peer has on the individual.

Faith T. Jimba, 17; Government Secondary School, Anglo-Jos, Plateau State

Simply means oppositions from your friends or asking you to do what you don’t want to. They are people who can oppose your actions.

Bulus Atang, 17; Angel International College, Jos

3.      What is a negative peer pressure?

Negative peer pressure is being pushed or pressurised to do negative/bad thing that will not help you socially.

Joanne J. Dankai, 12; Educare Chosen High School, Jos

Negative peer pressure is the influence from your age mates to practice evil.

Ejimofor Blessing, 17; Erudite Comprehensive Secondary School, Katsina, Katsina State

This is the kind of pressure that could lead you to danger, disgrace and regrets that normally comes from your mates or age mates.

Bolchit Y. Dandam, 18; Government Secondary School, Hwolshe

Negative peer pressure can lead people to cultism, drunkenness, prostitution and other social verses.

Dorcas Funke Alabi, 14; Katsina Diocesan Community School, Katsina

Is when people you know, around your age, pressurising you to do something you wouldn’t normally do.

Gabriel Solomon; Government Secondary School, Anglo-Jos, Plateau State

4.      How can young people influence their peer positively?

Matthew 8:13 says, “We are the salt of the world...” so we are to influence our peers, not them influencing us negatively by showing them the love of God. We do this by preaching the gospel wherever we go.

Segun V, Famoriyo, 11; Educare Chosen High School, Jos

Young people can influence their peers positively by coming together to read.

Akpara Roseline Chidi, 14; Katsina Diocesan Community School, Katsina

It easier for young people to influence their peer positively if

·         A friend is God fearing

·         A friend is very good in academic activity

                                Chukwu Nwosu, 16; St. Peter’s College, Potiskum, Bauchi State

               

                Young people can influence their peers positively by:

   Know the kind of peers you keep

  Always pray for them

Always encourage them in the right way

 Don’t be shouting at them and please before you do anything, think over it, and be patience to face all the challenges.

                        Dorcas Gambo, 18; Government Secondary School, Hwolshe

Young people can influence their peers positively by being shining example themselves. Encourage them to engage themselves in gainful vocations, academic works, establish positive clubs and societies, religious activities etc all in a way of helping them to attain their destiny.

Faith T. Jimba, 17; Government Secondary School, Anglo-Jos, Plateau State

5.      What can help young people to properly manage pressures from their friends?

How to manage peer pressures are as follows:

 Keeping positive self-esteem

Standing on God’s word

Using the abbreviation WWJD meaning; What Will Jesus Do?

                     Segun V, Famoriyo, 11; Educare Chosen High School, Jos

The only thing that can help young people manage pressure is to be sure they serve God in truth and in spirit. It is only by this that any influence on them on anything, they can pray to God and this will be the solution to their pressure.

Christiana Adubasim, 16; ST. Peter’s College, Potiskum, Bauchi State

Drawing closer to God and constant reading of the word of God can help us.

Anselem Nwaugo, 16; St. Peter’s College, Potiskum, Bauchi State

Counselling, background, focus and also determination to do what is right

Timothy Yakubu, 20; Government Secondary School, Anglo-Jos, Plateau State

     Why do young people find it difficult to resist pressure from their peers?

·         They have fun

·         They feel is the right thing they are doing

·         It is their everyday life

·         They feel free

·         They attract negative benefits such as sleeping with teachers/lecturers and getting what they want.

·         Above all, they don’t want to miss their friends.

             Oyindamola O. Oludoju, 11; Educare Chosen High School, Jos

               

  They find it difficult because

·         When they are enjoying some things that they did not have from their friends

·         When they have nobody to tell them that this his/her friends are bad ones.

Chukwu Nwosu, 16; St. Peter’s College, Potiskum, Bauchi State

        Young people find it difficult to resist pressures from their friends because:

·         They are afraid of losing those friends

·         Not willing to be sadists

·         They feel the world will not suit them without accepting the pressures from their peers.

Bolchit Dandam, 18; Government Secondary School, Hwolshe

It is difficult to resist peer pressure because anything their peers would want them involve, they give it to you at a cheaper rate, they make you feel important and you feel you are nowhere without them. For example, if they want to get you into fornication as a boy, they bring you the girl, even pay for a hotel room and a pack of condoms just for free and it makes it irresistible.

Kikka S. Emmanuel; Government Secondary School, Anglo-Jos, Plateau State

7.       How can young people help each other to cope with peer pressure?

Praying, studying the Bible together. Avoiding parties that can influence sexual intercourse which may result in pregnancy and thought of abortion. They should rather read together with focus on God alone for help.

Oyindamola O. Oludoju, 11; Educare Chosen High School, Jos

By advising, educating and teaching them on the right ways and possible consequences of the actions they do.

Dorcas Funke Alabi, 14; Katsina Diocesan Community School, Katsina

 Young people can help each other to cope with peer pressure by

·         Monitoring each other on unacceptable habits and discourage them

·         They should be kept busy with rewarding activities

·         They should be given moral education

·         People around them should be friendly and correct them with love

Faith T. Jimba, 17; Government Secondary School, Anglo-Jos, Plateau State

Young people can only help each other cope with pressure by understanding each other and having self-control.

Danjuma John Ampana, 19; Government Secondary School, Hwolshe

8.      How can one say ‘No’ to his/her friends without losing them?

It is very easy to say ‘NO’ to your peer without losing them. The following steps may be helpful:

·         Telling him/her about the consequences of such deeds

·         Reading scriptures (Bible) with he/she

·         Praying with him/her

·         Paying attention to everything he/she says

Segun V, Famoriyo, 11; Educare Chosen High School, Jos

               

One can say No to his friend by simply telling them no over a bad idea or action and stand on your words. Not only by saying No but by standing on your word and you shouldn’t criticize them but tell them the reason for saying no.

Akpara Roseline Chidi, 14; Katsina Diocesan Community School, Katsina

One can say ‘No’ to his/her friends without losing them simply by telling him/her the consequences of what he/she is about or into.

                Christiana Adubasim,16; ST. Peter’s College, Potiskum, Bauchi State

               

I don’t think one can say No to his/her friends without losing them. Two cannot walk together except they agree. No and Yes are two different things and not same or equal in meaning.

Timothy Yakubu, 20; Government Secondary School, Anglo-Jos, Plateau State

Make them see reason with you why you can’t do it

Bring up a joke and tell them you will think about it

Don’t talk about such again if that peer doesn’t ask

If he/she asks, tell them your own point about such situation

Arogbonlo loveth, 17; Angels International College, Jos

9.      What advice will you give to young people who are faced with this peer pressure syndrome?

They should mind the type of places they go, things they read, and the kind of friends they keep

Dorcas Funke Alabi, 14; Katsina Diocesan Community School, Katsina

Friends, if you really have a dream, a future, a destiny, then ask yourself, ‘Will this group of people kill my destiny or take me to my destination?’ god has given you a brain, use it. Remember the foundation of a house if not properly laid, the house will surely collapse in nearest future but you can change and lay a strong foundation. You can come out of them

Kikka S. Emmanuel; Government Secondary School, Anglo-Jos, Plateau State

My advice to them is to choose godly friends who will influence their lives positively and always maintain constant relationship with God.

Anselem Nwaugo, 16; St. Peter’s College, Potiskum, Bauchi State

Young people should:

·         Always make the right decision when and where necessary.

·         Young people should believe in themselves and not see any of their peers’ superior to them because there are all wonderful and fearfully made by God.

·         They should not place their peer advices above that of their parent advice.

·         They should not believe in short cut because it could cut short their destiny.

·         They should act right even if it means to fight in order to have a future that is right.

Esther Nsikak, 12; Angels International College, Jos

Try to know the kinds and types of peers you keep or walking with.

Dorcas Gambo, 18; Government Secondary School, Hwolsh

This is the seventh edition of young life magazine. Get your hard copy from any FCS office close by. You can add your own voice too, simply send your opinions, comments and questions to text to 23486 555 5588  234703 444 980, email: fcseditorgg@yahoo.com or fcsaid4life@gmail.com. Better still drop your comment below.