Segun looked shocked as both his parents entered the principals’ office, he knew he was in for it big time, Ha! He shouldn’t have followed through with Timo’s idea of sneaking out of school that day. Sneaking out of school was supposed to mark one as a “big boy” around Tiwase School.
Up to this point he had loved being in the boarding school, he had always been well behaved and did not get caught in the schemes that his classmates got involved in. As a junior in Tiwase Secondary you were an errand boy; it was not enjoyable at all. Now a few weeks as a senior school student, he was really starting to enjoy Secondary school. There was a feeling of freedom that came with being older. His grades were great and his parents were super proud of him so he thought it was time to relax a little.
He felt it that day, his gut had told him not to follow his friends anywhere that night, he should have listened to his instincts. How he wished he could turn back the hands of time. He started to recall the events of the evening he couldn’t believe he fell for it, he was supposed to be above peer pressure.
The Scenario
It was the end of another school day and as the bus was getting filled and ready to take the day students home, Timo jumped out of the window and rushed over to him. “Segun how far, are you still coming tonight? Or do you want to chicken out again”? he said as he jabbed my stomach. “Are you going to be an Ozalo”? Ozalo was what the students called boys that were too frightened to take the “Jungle route”. Once you are tagged as such the label stays with you for the rest of your secondary school days!
“No i am not”! He had defended! Rolling his eyes, and trying to hide his fear. “Fine I will go with you guys! but after a few drinks, I am out”. Don’t say I did not warn you guys when Mr. Fadolu finds out. The man beats and punishes like thunder! One stroke and one can just rest in peace. Timo let out a loud explosion of laughter and confidently said “we never get caught”.
Segun! He jolted back to life as he heard his name loudly. The look on his father’s face spoke a thousand words, oh boy that look of anger and disappointment was just too much for him. He wondered if they would believe that this was his first time of following them to “Bezu” the term for the boys who go to the “spot”. The spot was where they perched on a ledge and tried to get a peek of the girls while they bathe or change clothes.
Just due to his luck he was the only boy caught. He had ratted out on Timo but somehow Timo denied it and even the bus driver attested to the fact that he had dropped Timo at home. Segun felt so stupid! There was a system here and he unknowingly fell into the trap!
“Sir” he answered Looking down, he couldn’t face his dad. “So do you want to explain how this happened…..” his dad asked.
The reality is that peer pressure is real and children are faced with it every day, how do we equip them to be able to say no and do what is right?
