Peer pressure is a double-edged sword that can cut both ways with minimum fuss. Even though peer pressure is often associated with negativities it can be argued that it has a lot of positive sides to it. And a lot of us have enjoyed the positive side of it.
The first time I had a full understanding of what peer pressure was all about was during my early teenage years. I was in JSS3 and a boarding house student. When we resumed for the session the housemaster grouped male students from the first year to the last together to share a table at the dining hall.
For example, Table 1 may have 15 students ranging from JSS1 to SS3. I was grouped in Table 3. We had a couple of juniors and two SS3 students on our table. And if you know what goes back then with the amount of power SS3 students wield you'll just know the juniors on the Table are in trouble.
As the term wore on, those two seniors ran roughshod over the juniors. If any junior arrived late to the dinning hall he wouldn't eat because the seniors would've eaten his food. I fell foul of that on several occasions and had to console myself with garri for dinner. For each time that happened, my anger swelled. I wanted revenge but was scared of the consequences.
One good afternoon, Solomon, a friend of mine on the same table decided to take law into his own hands. He told me he was going to "embezzle" the food of the seniors as payback. He told two more juniors on the table and they hatched a plan. I knew the likely repercussions would be severe punishment so I stayed out of their plan.
A day before the event, the three guys were moving about planning their next action without me. I felt left out and wanted a piece of the revenge plot, but I was scared. On D-day, a Sunday, I told them I wanted in. If the three other guys were ready to avenge the injustice and damn any repercussions, who am I not to join them especially since I'm the most wronged of them all.
On the next day, Sunday, we perfected our act. Four of us "embezzled" lunch meant for 13 students. It was after we enjoyed the lunch that it eventually dawned on me that we were in trouble. And, trust me, it was real trouble. The seniors summoned us and made us regret the day we were born. That was the first time that I really understood peer pressure. However, that wasn't the last.
Though most of my distinct memories of peer pressure tends towards the negatives, there are a couple occasions where peer pressure played positive, beneficial roles in my life. I can as well start reminiscing from the secondary school days when I had disciplined friends. I was very poor at setting targets but these dudes I was with set academic goals and achieved it. Due to that, I started taking my education seriously too.
Another area where peer pressure helped me was in relation to others. As an introvert I found it incredibly hard to interact with people. This led to embarrassing situations on a couple of occasions during my university days until I shared a room with one outgoing, well extroverted dude.
As we moved around from one of his lady friends' houses to another, he'd intentionally leave me alone with a girl or two who would want to have a discussion. At first it was very hard, but my friend just wouldn't let up. He'd invite his girlfriend and instruct her to come with her friend. Once they arrive, my friend would leave with her girl and I would be left with the other girl. Eventually, I was forced to interact. I learnt, and it was for the better. I no longer have those worries.
I can talk about several instances where peer pressure has been a positive influence on me. And one of the bedrock of positive peer influence is maintaining positive relationships all around. When you move with the right set of people, they automatically rub off on you. Their goals and achievements become influential as one will not want to be left behind.
In conclusion, whatever one gets from one's association depends on the type of people one associates with. If you walk with the wrong guys, the peer pressure will result in negative results. However, move with the right people and it won't be peer pressure anymore, it will be positive peer influence.
