It is often argued that peer pressures often impact young people’s behaviors and situations at a certain age. In my view, although peer pressures have some negative impacts on young people’s development, I believe that the advantages of peer pressures do outweigh the disadvantages.
Proper peer pressures help students to reach their potential. For instance, teachers tend to set academic role models in the classrooms, as high-achieving students help motivate and stimulate low-level students to keep up with them. This is essential for students to recognise and realise their potential. Reasonable peer pressures also encourage students to develop communication and cooperation skills. This is largely because young people can utilize team members’ strength to achieve tasks that individuals cannot accomplish. Such experiences may prepare students better for wider social interaction and future career paths.
On the other hand, excessive peer pressures may be detrimental to young people’s physical and mental health. For example, students under high competition are more likely influenced by psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. Therefore, some of them may become involved in anti-society behaviours, which impair their long-term well-being. Moreover, too much peer pressure may make young people neglect some important human virtues, such as fair play and honesty. As a result, some of them may cheat or plagiarise to avoid failure, which goes against the true spirit of education. Consequently, excessive peer pressure may undermine students’ level of health.
In conclusion, although excessive peer pressures may lead to concern about young people’s physical and mental growth, I believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Young people need to control their level of stress and get benefits from it, which is essential for their long-term development.