Peer pressure backfires

PEER pressure is a big problem in Namibia and people tend to take it for granted.

It is one of the main causes for drug abuse; teenage pregnancies and even suicides among young people, and, let us not forget the spread of HIV/Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases. I am writing this letter is to encourage those young people of today who are resisting all this pressure – and I know what I am talking about.Peer pressure is mainly concentrated in schools – especially high schools.To get to the point, I am currently an 18-year-old matriculant so I will be done with school in a months time.If I follow my friends’ wrong-doings, I see that most of them indulge in alcohol, party all the time.Let us face the facts.With all that clubbing, they ended up either pregnant or a grade behind me.So what I want to do, is to encourage the youth to believe in themselves so they will stop harming themselves.They should try this experiment and watch their friends like I have and they will see them self-destructing.And people can never change who you are except if you let them, and then – in the long run – you are harming yourself.I have managed to resist these temptations, but I am still alive and happy, whereas those who fail are not so happy.Remember this is your sole responsibility.If you do not start taking good advice you will end up a statistic with HIV/Aids, a drug addict or in prison.So make the right choice as you read this and if you choose the right path you will not regret it.All the best wishes to the grade 12s of this year in Namibia and good luck after school life.- Charles Mbeha – WindhoekI am writing this letter is to encourage those young people of today who are resisting all this pressure – and I know what I am talking about. Peer pressure is mainly concentrated in schools – especially high schools. To get to the point, I am currently an 18-year-old matriculant so I will be done with school in a months time. If I follow my friends’ wrong-doings, I see that most of them indulge in alcohol, party all the time. Let us face the facts. With all that clubbing, they ended up either pregnant or a grade behind me. So what I want to do, is to encourage the youth to believe in themselves so they will stop harming themselves. They should try this experiment and watch their friends like I have and they will see them self-destructing. And people can never change who you are except if you let them, and then – in the long run – you are harming yourself. I have managed to resist these temptations, but I am still alive and happy, whereas those who fail are not so happy. Remember this is your sole responsibility. If you do not start taking good advice you will end up a statistic with HIV/Aids, a drug addict or in prison. So make the right choice as you read this and if you choose the right path you will not regret it. All the best wishes to the grade 12s of this year in Namibia and good luck after school life.- Charles Mbeha – Windhoek