Peer pressure depends on what is called your 'circle of influence'— the people you surround yourself with
Peer pressure is a really commonly used phrase today, and often it is just used as an excuse for teens to get away with something stupid. But honestly, each one of us has been through it. We want something or want to do something because our friends and everyone else is doing it. Nobody really sees that this can have a positive influence as well. Peer pressure depends on what is called your 'circle of influence'— the people you surround yourself with. Think about it, if your best friend wants to eat a donut at Krispy Kreme, you're probably going to go with her and eat one too.
When I was 15, in Grade 10, my best friend started studying every day. She wasn't a great student, but she worked hard because she had to put in so many more hours than everyone else to get the same result. Luckily, I didn't. I was in boarding school and when she was studying, I really didn't have much else to do in a remote hill station. So, I studied. Soon, courtesy the extra hour I put, I started getting As in subjects I didn't even like, say Math, for example.
A semester later, my boyfriend decided that he wanted to become the fastest athlete in school. At first, I laughed it off, but since we didn't get to spend much time together he suggested I accompany him to the track everyday. I did it just for the sake of being with him, but, in no time, I started loving it. I realised that I was naturally good at it, and I kept going, more out of my own motivation. My body changed, and I was so much happier. I could even concentrate better in class.
By the end of that year, my GPA shot up like never before, and I became the sports captain. I started participating at state level for track, and even began playing tennis again, something I hadn't done in over two years. And no, it was not a mundane year. It was one of the best years in high school, because boarding school just can't be boring.
So here's the truth — it's all about what kind of friends you have. If you have boring friends who do nothing but work, make new friends. Vice versa for the friends who do nothing but chill. Find a balance for yourself where 'peer pressure' works to your advantage. If not, be the influence yourself. Do something different with your friends — learn a new language or learn to bake a new dessert. Find a way in which you all can actually study together. They say there's no way you can manage studies, sports and a social life, but trust me, that's untrue. It's all about how much you can get done while having fun.
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