SENSITIZATION TALK ON EFFECT OF PEER PRESSURE ON YOUNG PERSONS IN UGBOKOLO COMMUNITY, OKPOKWU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENUE STATE
ORGANIZED BY
NYSC EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CDS GROUP,
UGBOKOLO
Thursday, 4th July 2019

PRESENTED BY
Corper ONI GBOTEMI JERRY
BN/18C/0090

Good morning students, We give thanks and glory to God for the opportunity given us to share our thoughts with you. We also appreciate the leadership and management of St. Peter Secondary School for this noble platform. I charge you to be very serious about the session, we are about to go into. I need your rapt attention and I trust you will give me. I will be speaking quickly on the theme.
Effect Of Peer Pressure On Young Persons : Focus on Career, Morals and Health
First of all, what is peer pressure? Can anyone help us with that....Alright ..Thank you. According to Wikipedia, Peer pressure is the social influence a peer group exerts on its individual members, as each member attempts to conform to the expectations of the group. Peer pressure is the direct influence on people by peers, or the effect on an individual who gets encouraged to follow their peers by changing their attitudes, values or behaviors to conform to those of the influencing group or individual. Peer pressure has moved from strictly face-to-face interaction to digital interactions as well. Social media offers opportunities for youth and young adults alike to instill and experience everyday.

Positive Effects of Peer Pressure


While negative peer pressure gets way more news time, it is not the only peer pressure that affects teens(youths). Youths that surround themselves with positive people can also see the effects. Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17
• Having positive friends will boost confidence and self-esteem.
• Improved academic performance
• Family life can also improve with positive peer pressure.
• Peers set plenty of good examples for each other.
• Feedback and advice: Your friends listen and give you feedback as you try out new ideas, explore belief, and discuss problems.
• Peers often give each other good advice and also help in making right decisions.
• Peers group gives you opportunities to try out new social skills :studying together, encourage each other to join an extracurricular activity that does not promote using drugs or engaging in risky behaviors.


Negative Effects of Peer Pressure

When thinking of peer influence, what comes readily to mind for most people is negative peer pressure. Be not deceived, Evil communication corrupts good manners. I Corinthians 15:33.

• Negative peer pressure can be detrimental to self-esteem, influence clear decision-making, and increase stress. It can also cause Insomnia, Irritability, mood changes, Depression, Anxiety, Eating disorders.
• Peer pressure has been discovered to be the major causes of teenage pregnancy, (drug) addiction and theft.
• Taking drugs (abuse and overdose), smoking cigarettes, cutting classes, vandalizing, and stealing. participation in high-risk health behaviors, including smoking cigarettes, alcohol use, marijuana use, and engagement in illicit sexual and risky behaviors could result in death, accidents. Drinking alcohol while you are underage can land you in jail. Smoking is very addictive and can result in lung cancer.
• Negative peer pressure can influence you into making wrong career choices.
• Negative peer pressure influence peers to indulge in exam malpractices, truancy (lower school attendance), drop grades.
• It can also result in very tense relationship with parents, truancy, Health issues such as sexually transmitted diseases(STDs)..


PRACTICAL WAYS OF MANAGING PEER PRESSURE

• Turn to God for help, grace, courage & wisdom in managing pressure from your peers.
• Plan for possible pressure situations.
• Move with friends/peers who are pursuing the same career path with you and that are diligent and courageous enough to shun exam malpractice .
• Desist from friends/peers that indulge in poor healthful habits, hygiene and addiction/abuse.
• Decide ahead of time and even rehearse what you'll say and do. Learn a few tricks. Learn to feel comfortable saying "no."
• Choose friends who will speak up with you when you're in need of moral support, and be quick to speak up for a friend in the same way. Change the class of friends, you associate with when expedient.
• If a situation seems dangerous, don't hesitate to get an adult's help.
• Joining the FCS Fellowship, Quiz & Debate Team, Boys or Girls Club, Jet Club etc will help improve your self-confidence, listening and thinking skills. You can also start one if nonexistent.

It’s time to take a stand because you and I make up the society, it’s time to tell the society that each of us is unique and that we were not created to be the same, rather we influence ourselves and the society at large positively.Thank you for your attention.