Write an article for publication in your school magazine on the dangers of keeping bad company in school.

Answer Details

The Danger of Keeping Bad Company in School

By a Concerned Student

There is an old saying that a person is known by the company he keeps. Nowhere is this truer than in the school, where the friends a student chooses can either lift him to greatness or drag him to ruin. Sadly, many promising students have wrecked their lives simply by keeping bad company, and it is time we sounded a warning.

The first danger of bad company is poor academic performance. Idle and unserious friends discourage hard work. They mock those who study, tempt one to skip lessons and turn study periods into gossip sessions. Before long, a once-brilliant student begins to fail, for the friends who led him astray cannot write his examinations for him.

Secondly, bad company leads to the loss of good character. A student who moves with liars soon learns to lie; one who mixes with those who steal soon dips his own hand into other people's belongings. Bad habits, like a contagious disease, spread quickly from one companion to another. In this way, a well-brought-up child gradually loses the values his parents laboured to instil in him.

Thirdly, keeping bad company can lead to dangerous vices and even crime. Wrong friends introduce their companions to smoking, drug abuse, cultism and immorality. Many students have been expelled, imprisoned or have lost their lives because they followed such friends. The regret that follows always comes too late.

How, then, can a student protect himself? He should choose his friends carefully, preferring those who are hardworking and well-behaved. He should have the courage to say no to wrong suggestions and to walk away from company that leads to trouble. Above all, he should confide in his parents, teachers and counsellors whenever he is in doubt.

In conclusion, our friendships in school shape the persons we become. Let every student remember that it is far better to walk alone than to walk in the wrong direction with a crowd. Choose your friends wisely, for your future depends on it.