Junias VH Shipwilikineni
Today, many students are caught up in a fierce race to outdo each other. Competition has become part of our daily lives, mostly driven by peer pressure. But in the middle of all this, we are losing something very important: our connection to where we come from.
As a student myself, I have realised that we are messing up a lot because of this pressure to compete. We forget our culture, our families, and the values that once guided us. Instead, we focus only on being the best, sometimes at any cost. This is making us truly lost.
One big problem is that students are demanding things they don’t really need. Sometimes, we want expensive phones, trendy clothes, or even lifestyle habits that do not suit us or our families’ traditions. We are mixing up what is really important and forgetting why we left our biological homes in the first place: to study and build a better future.
Even more worrying is that many students are now settling down in places far from their families, getting married or living together without their parents’ knowledge. This secrecy breaks the trust between us and the people who raised us. It also puts us in risky situations that could affect our education and wellbeing.
Apart from this, students are losing sight of the culture and customs that gave us a sense of belonging. We forget traditional values like respect for elders, hard work, honesty, and patience. Instead, we get distracted by social media, parties, and peer pressure to fit in. All these distractions steal our focus from what truly matters: our education and personal growth.
We also see many students dropping out or performing poorly because they feel overwhelmed by the competition. When everyone around us is chasing the top grades or the best awards, it can feel like we are never successful enough. This constant pressure can cause stress, anxiety, and even loss of motivation.
But competition doesn’t always bring success. Sometimes, it only makes us lose ourselves. Instead of competing, we should be focusing on completing our studies and building a strong foundation for the future. Education is not just about winning; it is about learning, growing, and preparing ourselves for life’s challenges.
Young people today need to have a clear vision and mission. We should think deeply about where we want to go in life and how to get there. Let’s take a moment to look back and learn from the elders in our families and communities. Their experiences, values, and guidance can help us avoid mistakes and make better decisions.
It’s important to remember that success is not only about beating others; it’s about becoming the best version of ourselves. We should encourage one another to stay focused, respect our roots, and work hard without losing our identity.
To all students reading this, I say: stop letting peer pressure control you. Stop competing just for the sake of competition. Instead, focus on your goals, your family, and your culture. Remember why you started this journey and where you come from.
If we do this, we can build a future that honours our past, strengthens our present, and shapes a better tomorrow.
*Junias VH Shipwilikineni is a student at the International University of Management (IUM).
