Pressure as the name implies - to press, force someone to do something not out of free will.
Peer pressure makes you uncomfortable or adjust from your normal self just to fit into another lifestyle.
According to Cambridge dictionary, peer pressure is said to be the strong influence of a group, especially of children, on members of that group to behave as everyone else does:
Peer pressure is not only among teenagers, adults encounter it as well. Peer pressure makes you stretch out for things you can't reach, be it negatively or positively.
It mostly happens when you have a clique or niche you constantly hang out with. There be a lot of competition and you won't want to be left out or perhaps a misfit.
Well I'm not a saint but I could boldly say I wasn't a victim of peer pressure while I was in secondary school, I don't know if I will be in University. But I think I wouldn't because I definitely know and have seen the pros and cons of it.
I went to a very sophisticated school, and you know the pressure there is always high. What saved me was that I had a clique and we were kind of a minimalist set of people and funnily we were not always moved by anything. We had our fun in our own way but not the extravagant type of lifestyle.
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We were cool and unique even in the midst of so many parties, clubbing, hangouts etc. And after six years we were successfully done. Without phones and social media😫😫..
It was after our graduation and we all dispersed to different tertiary institutions, by then I knew the real definition of pressure.
It wasn't easy I could tell. Firstly my classmates got into the tertiary institution, while I didn't get the admission. They matriculated and I went for some while the rest I saw them on social media. I trust you know that feeling already.
The second one came heavily a year after graduation. Anytime I open my social media handles I would see my ex classmates living in so much sophistication and luxury. They had money, they were into businesses like cryptos, affiliate marketing, name it.
They were living large, especially the girls and they were all in school. I felt so inferior and inopportune. Anytime there was a gathering that consisted my classmates I wouldn't even dare think of going before I was like "who am I"
They will host big birthday parties, get bouquets, iPhones as gifts, shopping spree
I won't lie to my dear people, I felt bad and the pressure became high. Pressure to make money and also flaunt it on social media. Then I could settle for any job and I would click any link, do any raindrop.
I was like a wild tiger let loose and money was my prey. Yet still I still had my morals no matter what. Funny thing is that this money didn't even come.
Two things made me stop. One I invested money into an online trading business, my account grew big and I still wanted more. Within the blink of an eye, everything disappeared.
I froze at that point and everything was pointless and useless.
Secondly I was told that most of my classmates, about three of them, were into hookup and lesbianism. I confirmed it as well. And the other came up to make a video that we should believe everything we are seeing online, that she really is going through a lot, both financially, health wise, academics and so on.
All I can say is that God saved me ooooooo. I ran without looking back anymore. Here I am doing my small thing and growing perfectly.