Peer Pressure is a term describing the pressure exerted by a “Peer Group” in encouraging a person to change their attitude, behaviour and/or morals. A person is pressured by his peer group to conform to the group’s actions, fashion sense, taste in music and television, or outlook on life. A person affected by peer pressure may or may not want to belong to these groups. Peer pressure can also cause people to do things they wouldn’t normally do
Of late, Peer pressure has impacted the performance of children and students negatively and has 
become a topical issue debated upon in several circles. Not helping students in handling this issue gives rise to stress in students and in some cases ruins their lives as well. It is therefore a must that we nip the issue of peer pressure in the bud itself.
We all know that each and every student is unique and is blessed with a range of potential and capabilities. Rather than understanding the capabilities of the children, It is indeed sad to see that parents/teachers make too much demands on the children these days for achieving excellence in performance irrespective of the potential of the student thereby creating peer pressure in many cases. Forgetting their innate capabilities, all they do is to compare them constantly with the Joe next door or in school constantly resulting in killing of the creative juices of the students concerned.
The ultimate result is nothing but an imbalance created between the potential of the individual and the expectations of his parents/teachers and this results in a stressful situation. In such a case, the student is at crossroads with his confidence dented ! The student becomes frustrated and he is confused and his actions are in conflict with his mind.
Simple but effective message from the Gita to the students is as follows:
- Appreciate that you are instruments in the hands of God.
- Understand the theory of Nishkamya Karma – perform without expectation of immediate gratification
- Put your best foot forward. Once you have given our best, nothing should worry you. If you do not worry, you would not feel stressed out.
- Control your minds and resolve the conflict taking place in the mind. Accepting a problem in the mind is equivalent to accepting defeat and facing the challenge confidently.
- Think positively that even this will pass away. External pressures are mere disturbances. Having controlled your mind.. be disturbance proof.
- Anything done with faith resonates well with the Lord. He makes the faith unshakeable. Academic achievements are good but success is something else. Several dropouts have made it big!
- Have a never say die attitude.. Never quit.. Develop refusal skills
