THE PRESSURE OF A PEER GROUP

Don't do what others are doing because yours may not end like theirs, we all have different graces. This is what my mother would always echo in our ears those days we were growing up. Then there was a woman living very close to our house in Lagos and when I was to go to the university, she repeated that statement and I was like are all mothers the same? Hehe

_{class peer on a tour around Rome. Who can spot me here?}

Peer group pressure has been tagged as one of the most influential force on a person. Do you remember that phrase in Nigeria if you cannot beat them, join them, it's to show you how powerful peer pressure is. Peer groups can even make more influence on a child than the parental training. This is why one has to be in the right peer.

First of all, what is Peer group and what is Peer pressure? They are two words that explain each other. Peer group is a club of persons of like interest, approximate age and status. In other words, it is a group of persons with similar interest and within the same age grade and status of life. Thus we can talk of the peer of students in nursery, primary, secondary or university educational level or also a peer of friends in the same line of trade or services.

_{This is more like a brotherhood}

Growing up, we all grew up in the midst of a peer group. It is either from school or at home or in the church. We have those we often find ourselves with and with whom we interact more often and play with. These are examples of peer groups. This is not limited only to childhood but to every stage of life, thus even the old people.

Furthermore, peer pressure is the influence of a peer group on a person. It is a given that every peer group has a pattern of existence. There is always an interst at heart which at every point of meeting they talk about or do.

For instance a peer of football lovers will always discuss football or play football amidst other things they may do each time they meet. This attitude tends to influence any person belonging to that peer who may not be a fan of football but belong to that peer. Here I am a practical example, hehe.

_{Now I love football more than footballers, hehe}

The question, is what is the benefit or disadvantage of a peer group? The truth is that we cannot live in isolation if we want to be happy people. So we must always find ourselves belonging to a group of our peers. But then these groups have direct influence on us and that is why one must choose a group that is suitable for His choice of life.

We are drawn very close to what we see others do around us more often. Eventhough we may not like the attitude at first but upon consistent experience, we may begin to develop interest in it. This is how many young persons begin to learn some habits like drinking alcohols, smoking, womanising and the likes.

_{A nice outing to Florence}

But then also, people tend to learn some virtues when in the midst of a group of good people. Some one who doesn't like going to church may begin to go because his friends go, or someone who does not dress neatly before may begin to do so because his friend do so.

By implication, peer pressure has both negative and positive effects. So what must we do? We should be masters of ourselves to decide what we want in life and model our lives in that lane. We must avoid clinging to a peer group that would jeopardise our aspirations in life.

Indeed bad companies corrrupt good manners, so we must distance ourselves from negative peers and be among people of serious minds for the realization of our future prospects.

_{It's like we were defeated here, hehe}
I feel this is a message that people especially the young in our society today need and I appreciate the fact that the [aprilinleo prompt]](https://inleo.io/@leo.tasks/april-inleo-monthly-calendar-now-here) has brought it forward as a theme of discussion, who knows, someone might stumble on a write up on this and get inspired. So thanks to the organisers and I invite all those who have not been part of this initiative to join in and enjoy.

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