adminMarshall Bwanya Cool Lifestyle Writer
Some young people allow negative opinions and views from peers, friends and media to dictate what they eat, how they dress or what careers to pursue at the expense of their own choices, preferences and options which they suppress. Youths need to realise that some people thrive on making other people feel insecure about themselves in order to feel good or great.
It is imperative one does not allow such negative voices or opinions to get the better of them. Sometimes what one thinks disqualifies them from being exceptional is actually what qualifies them. Those qualities, traits and characteristics one is trying to suppress are what this world is actually missing.
Everyone is special in their own way hence, one should not sacrifice what they really like and love to satisfy other people’s opinions.
Brian Dube (18) from Bulawayo said it is was of no profit for one to become a social robot by conforming into other people’s deviant and delinquent standards just to fit in.
“If you allow what other people are to always define who you are you consequently become a social sculpture that has no thoughts or voice of its own,” he said.
Everyone has their own different tastes and qualities they possess. By unlocking ones’ voice from suppression one gets to realise their own potential, talent and attributes that they actually possess. One should not neglect own personal aspirations or desires to satisfy other people’s negative opinions about them.
Sometimes being yourself means one has to face a lot of criticism and discrimination. Lord Malvern High headboy Brian Masunda (18) cited two things that led him to pursue his own aspirations and dreams.
“The two things that have made me withstand and overcome negative influences from peers and media firstly is my strong Christian background that has a major influence in the choices and decisions I make.
“Secondly, I realised my self worth, who I was and what I want to achieve in my career. This has given me strength to overcome negative things other people say in an attempt to influence me,” he said.
Masunda reiterated that he was once driven by peer pressure to listen to crude explicit music that promoted immorality and that his turning point was when he realised that this type of music was giving him a wrong message about life.
Everyone is unique and has his or her special qualities. One should not hide behind gimmicks to hide their true voice. Bindura State University student Tatenda Wachinuka (19) attributed her upbringing as the source of her strength to overcome negative influence from the media and peers.
“My parents raised me to always surround myself with friends or people that have the same values, beliefs and principles I have.
“That is why I have been able to shut out bad company from manipulating me to engage in deviant behaviour,” she said.
It is not worth to sacrifice your real personality, quality and character for gaining acceptance. If your peers, classmates or colleagues do not accept you for who you truly are then they do not really have compassion towards you.
It takes guts and determination to stand in the face of adversity and peer pressure to say no this is who I am. Our social fabric is made up of different people with diverse personalities and qualities.
Some young people unfortunately allow the media, friends and colleagues to intimidate them into believing that they are not cool, fashionable or trendy.
One should not allow themselves to be trapped in a web of conformity that only seeks to tarnish their self image and hurt them. Some young people resort to drinking, smoking and abuse of alcohol to gain acceptance from friends or peers. Such deviant delinquent behaviour only destroys and tarnishes one’s bright future.
Hence young people should never allow negative concepts from peers, friends or the media to define them as social statistic.
Online Reporter