By Nabiha Ariff
Most of us usually think no end of ourselves. We have a never changing attitude that we will always be ourselves, no matter what. We even think that we wouldn’t care if someone would jeer at us outright, embarrass us or insult us.

Well, you know what, maybe you should all just stop acting macho and admit the fact that you do get affected and you do care and somewhere down the line it does hit you hard whenever someone embarrasses you.

We’re human after all, it is alright to feel insulted or be hurt but at the same time there is no reason to start bawling over these issues and think of all the possible reasons that could help you become a person who is loved.

There is always a tendency of changing in some slight way but drastic changes are definitely signs of not being strong enough to let people appreciate the real you.

However, if you are doing this or have happily done it already, you must have surely realised by now that you are leading a really miserable life. Yes! It definitely is no fun trying to be someone else.

For how long do you think you can be this new character? Miraculously, if you do succeed in pursuing this course, unfortunately you will be amongst people who are not like the real you.

The issue of peer pressure has long been a burden on students, young workers and even siblings. People are so engrossed in ‘fitting in’ that they fail to see that during the process they lose not only their dignity but their true selves as well.

As a matter of fact, it goes to the extent of affecting young minds to go out of the way to change themselves. There have always been worried parents complaining about their children going through sudden changes, changing for the bad, and this often happens especially once children enter their teens.

Why is it so difficult for people to understand that people should like you for who you are and not for whom you become for them? There is nothing to worry about if people give you the cold shoulder when you walk around being yourself, because you are not the ‘weird’ one, they are!

If they can be shallow minded enough to categorise their friends, they surely aren’t worthy enough to be called ‘friends’ in the first place.

All those of you having peer pressure at school, college, work, or anywhere, there is no point stressing about it. All you have to do is get yourself together, walk without a trace of fear on your face and stare back at them with the ‘don’t-care’ attitude.

Maybe for a change, if you look at the positive side of being yourself, it wouldn’t be that bad after all. Learn to be yourself and be happy with who you are. Don’t wish you were someone else because you never know, there may be so many out there who might be wishing they were you while you are trying to be someone else.

If you, just for once, smile the way you usually smile, dress the way you really want to, speak in your own accent or do your hair like you always have, things wouldn’t be as nasty as you expect them to be. In fact, you’ll end up making genuine and loyal friends instead of being surrounded with fake and judgmental people.

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