There are many challenges we face when going to university and living independently for the first time, and one of the most common of these is navigating peer pressure. While many young people face it in secondary school, it becomes a whole other level in university, where the likes of alcohol, drugs and sex are much more prominent and you don’t necessarily have the shoulders of your parents to lean upon.
University is an exciting time, full of opportunities, chances to experience new things and find out who you are, but it’s also important that you stick to your own values too and avoid being dragged into things you don’t want to be dragged into through peer pressure.
So, if you’re heading off to university in the next few weeks, here are some top tips for navigating peer pressure.
Know Your Values
First and foremost, a good idea before you even set foot on campus, ensuring you have a strong sense of your values is a must. This will give you a good grounding about what you think is wrong and right before temptation even steps your way.
University is a melting pot of ideas, beliefs and behaviours. Take drugs for example, many see university as an opportunity to experiment. But at the same time, further down the line, many also see it as the place where their life started to unravel as a result of addiction, ending up in drug rehab trying to get their lives back on track.
Choose Your Friends Wisely
The friends we make at university can have a huge impact on our life, so choosing them wisely is important. It’s the same as in secondary school, our friends can impact our decision making, so choosing ones that respect you and your decisions as well as support your goals is a must.
Good friends are those who encourage you to be true to yourself rather than push you to do things you’re uncomfortable with. So stick with those types of friends!
Practice Assertiveness
At university we tend to develop key life skills and one of the best ones to learn is being able to say “no” in a confident manner and without guilt. If you’re pressured into something that doesn’t align with your values, be polite, but be firm in your response. This can be something that can be utilised in many other parts of your life too.
Find a Support System
Resisting temptation is hard, and sometimes you may find you need a little help doing it. Having a support system in place, whether it be friends, family members or even university mentors who you can talk to when you do feel pressured can make a huge difference.
Having a support system at university is essential. Whether it’s family, a mentor, or a trusted friend, having someone to talk to when you’re feeling pressured can make all the difference. Universities often have counselling services or peer support groups where you can discuss your concerns and get advice on handling difficult situations. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help; having someone in your corner can bolster your confidence in making decisions.
Keep Long-Term Goals in Mind
Getting caught up in the moment is one of the downfalls of people, particularly when everyone around you seems to be having fun. It’s important to keep long term goals in perspective and remind yourself why you’re at university and what you’re trying to achieve from it, whether that be certain grades, building a career or even personal development.
By keeping those at the forefront of your mind, it’ll make it much easier to say no and resist temptation.
Understand That It’s Ok to Be Different
University is a time when people really do find themselves and a big part of that is understanding that it’s ok to be different. You don’t have to conform to what everybody else is doing, everybody’s journey is unique and yours can involve studying over partying or for you to have different views to others in regards to alcohol, drugs, politics or anything else.
Embracing individuality is key. Don’t forget that, it makes us who we are.
Learn from Mistakes
It’s inevitable that at some point, you might give in to peer pressure. When this happens, don’t be too hard on yourself. Instead, view it as a learning experience. Reflect on what led you to make that choice and how you can handle similar situations better in the future. Mistakes are part of the learning process, and they can provide valuable lessons in self-awareness and resilience.
Set Boundaries
Setting boundaries is crucial in maintaining your integrity. Be clear about what you’re comfortable with and communicate that to others. Whether it’s regarding personal space, time management, or social activities, having boundaries ensures that you’re not constantly compromising your well-being to fit in with others’ expectations.
