Peer pressure on several occasions is often associated with negativity and unpalatable endings if followed, and we can't entirely say that notion is wrong because we've seen that play out in the lives of many who are victims of peer pressure. However, there have been instances where peer pressures ended up being bringers of good tidings and positivity. I'm a living testament to that, and today I'll be sharing some of those experiences of good pressure I've received and the impact they had on me with you.
One of the most notable and recent peer pressures I've found myself under that ended up being a good thing for me was regarding my health, and I remember how my colleagues and friends, like @aunty-tosin, on several occasions pressured me to pay a visit to the hospital for medical checkup and treatment regarding my continuous health challenges and how I fell sick almost every week. It was about two years ago that they kept on pestering me to register with our employer's health care services and also pay a visit to the hospital to get myself treated. I knew how I avoided their advice and pressure for months because I'm just not a fan of the hospital smell and felt like visiting the hospital made me feel weak and timid.
But then after months of undergoing those pressures, I finally gave in by first registering and then paying a visit to the hospital, and what I was avoiding due to several reasons ended up being a blessing in disguise because I can testify that undergoing various tests and medication checkups helps the doctor find out what's wrong, then treats me for it, and in the end helps improve my health and overall well-being.
Another of such occasions where peer pressure went well for me was during my undergraduate days at the university. I remember I once talked about how my first semester results during my 100 level weren't anything to write home about. I was literally sad and dejected about it, but then looking at some of my friends results, it was a different story entirely, and so I needed to initiate some changes because prior to the first semester exam, I didn't join them in any reading group or tutorial they hosted because I felt I'm capable of excelling on my own; despite the fact that they usually invite me to join them, I refused, but after seeing the outcome of my decision, I had no choice but to give in to their pressure to join them for the reading group and tutorial.
The pressure from my friends and my decision to join them became the driving force that skyrocketed my academic performance and GPA because I went from having three carryovers and barely passing other courses to excelling in every other exam I underwent and not having any results that were below credit till I graduated from the university. I'm thankful that I gave in to the pressure from my friends, and seeing how that led to better grades and academic growth for me was something I'll forever be grateful for.
Aside from those, it's worth noting that peer pressure isn't always direct; sometimes we're the ones who put these pressures on ourselves based on what we saw our friends achieving, and while it can sometimes be bad, on other occasions, if handled well, it can turn out to be a blessing in disguise. I remember how during my first year on Hive, I usually put pressure on myself regarding my account growth, especially when I spied on the accounts of some of those who we joined Hive around the same time and saw how well they're doing. This usually stands as a healthy challenge that pushes me towards personal growth and self-improvement in all aspects here, and so far that pressure has been a blessing that I'm thankful I bestow upon myself.
With all of those experiences being read, I believe you'll agree with me that not all peer pressures are bad, because the above experiences have taught me that positive peer pressure not only pushes us towards greatness but also inspires us towards personal growth, self-improvement, and positive change.
All photos are mine.
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