Mendy Tyhawana says to reach your dreams you need to believe in yourself and ditch friends who drag you down.

Hey, young people out there! My name is Mendy Tyhawana. I want to share my story with you about the challenges I've faced as a young person and a peer educator. I joined the GOLD program when I was doing Grade 10 three years ago. I was young, confused and did everything my friends did. I even joined the GOLD program just because my friends did and they wanted me to. Talk about peer pressure!

My friends were not very serious about school or the GOLD programme and bunked classes and GOLD sessions. Of course, I also bunked because I was afraid of them and did not have the guts to stand up to them. I did everything my friends did. Whether it was bad or good, I did it, just to be recognized and so I could fit in with the group. I was fitting in, but my school work was suffering. I knew things had to change when I failed in June.

I managed to pass at the end of the year and started to realise the hold my friends had on me when they dropped out of the GOLD programme. They wanted me to drop out as well, but by then I could see what being involved with the programme was doing for me. I had started to think about values and hold on to them. I had goals, self-respect and I had gained confidence. For the first time, I stood up to my friends and said, no.

I had goals, self-respect and I had gained confidence. For the first time, I stood up to my friends and said, no.

Once I realised how the program was starting to change my life and stood up to my friends, I felt free to do anything and didn't worry what my friends would say. I began to see abilities in me that I had not seen before. I joined the school choir and I was one of the finalists who sang a solo for a competition in Cape Town where we came 3rd. I also pulled up my socks with my studies and I was in the top 10 in my class. Last year I passed my matric with a B symbol. I am also confident to talk in public now and have been called up to speak in front of the whole school in assembly.

I did not chase my friends away but I smoothly separated myself from them, getting more involved with school activities so I spent less time with them. They are still my friends but I don't follow everything they do.

One of the most important things I have learnt from the GOLD programme is to respect myself. It's also important to know what your values are and stick to them so you can respect yourself and others and reach your goals at the same time.

I would like you guys out there who are facing similar challenges to those I'm facing, to try this out and see what can happen. Believe in yourself. Don't let a group of people tell you what to do and control you or change your dreams. Stand up and fight for your future because you are precious and unique.

YOU ARE GOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

TALK GROUP DISCUSSION – Peer Pressure Cooker!
1: What steps can we take to:
- avoid being bullies and pressuring our friends and peers to behave a certain way?
- avoid giving in to peer pressure?