African parents can be so unique in some aspects that you don't even have to tell if they are the ones who did such a thing or not. They are always our parents with that unique style of parenting.
I remember sometimes when we were younger, if we did some misconduct and deserved to be disciplined, especially from mum’s end, she wouldn't beat us but she was ready to tell us our biographies. Some words that when you hear them you will have to think twice about your existence.
Mum would scold us, then at the end of her words, you will hear her mention of some other kids and how they have performed. Can't you see Charles? Look at how he made his mama proud. He came first in his class, and he is your mate ooo! I don't know what your use is. Just to eat and play.
No way! If you are such a child, especially with anger issues, you will surely feel like dealing with Charles in one way or the other. It's either you grab some adrenaline rush and do whatever your parents want to see in you, then maybe later on you relax. But at least you just have to make sure you are ahead of Charles.
Most times the comparison always comes when it comes to aspects of education and good morals. But when it’s something otherwise, you will also see our parents warn us not to be like Charlie. Charlie who has turned a nuisance in society, Charlie who had raised his voice upon his parents, The popular street thug. But why don't they allow me to compete with Charlie but Charles?
This is because they don't have much to motivate and encourage, at times there is always a push that comes from competition, so far it's on a positive aspect of life and not a negative and unnecessary aspect of life. So this push is also what we call peer pressure.
Just like every other aspect of life, peer pressure also has its merits and demerits. When used positively then there is always a good outcome from it. But when used negatively, there is no good return from it other than destruction.
I have been under peer pressure a lot of times. There were times when I saw my mates get admitted into the university and I was still home. There were times when I saw my mates' results in the institution but compared to mine, it was just incomparable.
There are times when I see some other students so financially stable and living a luxurious and nice life as students. But I am just struggling to make ends meet. And there are times when my friends get nice jobs and live a nice life, but I am just way different.
Do I allow these to get me swayed?
No! And this is because I have been disciplined to know the difference between positively using peer pressure and ignoring the negativity of it. Peer pressure with my friend in the university got me to improve academically and I am always grateful for that to date.
This is my response to the HIVE LEARNERS weekly prompt in hive learners community for the Week 153 Edition 3 and the topic to be discussed is THE GOOD PRESSURE
