Campus Confessions: How I was introduced to peer pressure and character development
When most of us look back on our campus years, they will tell you about mgomo ya students, skipping classes, character development, kulala njaa or kupiga sherehe.
But what I don't think is talked about enough is the peer pressure of being on campus and the crazy things it makes you do; at least in my experience.
Thinking back to when I first landed at Egerton University, free from the clutches and watchful eyes of my parents, the world was my oyster.
For the first month or two, all I did was observe and absorb my new-found freedom.
I mean, nilikuwa free kuvaa jeans, tights na vests, clothes not approved at home.
So what did I do, I started shopping for them and even pierced my ears, my first act of rebellion.
My second act of rebellion was to only attend classes when I felt like it.
We unajua venye iyo freedom ya no school bell, prefect ama teacher on duty ni tamu?
In Campo, I could choose not to go to class from time to time, especially on Fridays when I would work on my laundry or even watch the latest movies/series or just sleep.
Where does peer pressure come in? This is where the story gets juicy.
I was a student at the city campus, so the first hostel I stayed in was at Shabab Estate, better known as Shabe.
Now if there's one thing Shabe was known for back then, apart from a lot of delicious street food and the Ozone video store, it was the hot Somali (Walalo) residents, who were rumoured to be related.
Allow me to take you back in time, when I checked into my hostel room I was paired up with some really lovely girls as roommates.
My flatmates were, and still are, really gorgeous girls, so as you might expect, they all had boyfriends, whereas this girl from a very strict church upbringing didn't.
Here comes my first experience of peer pressure; once a Campo classmate of mine jokingly remarked "wewe ni mtu mkubwa sasa unafaa kuwa na mtu."
That was the first time I succumbed to peer pressure; I went and got myself a mwalalo man, but sema mambo kuniramba.
The guy turned out to be a disciple of controversial vlogger Andrew Kibe, on a mission to leave a trail of character development on the opposite sex.
There are so many other instances where I've succumbed to peer pressure, but that's a story for another day.
The moral of this story is that if you've just joined campus or are about to; peer pressure iko very real and quite convincing ukiwa campo, don't give in.
Only do what feels right (morally, spiritually, personally) to you, regardless of kama utachekelewa for it. Also, izo vitu unadai kufanya utafanya hadi uchoke, so focus on the main thing that brought you to university; study!
Are you in a college or campus in Nakuru County and would like to share your interesting experience? Write to us on [email protected].
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