Kota Factory 3 continues to delve into student life in Kota with a compelling five-episode run. Directed by Raghav Subbu, the series retains its distinctive monochrome colour scheme, which accentuates the emotional and thematic depth of the story.

Season 3 picks up where the previous season left off, exploring the challenges of Vaibhav Pandey (Mayur More) and his friends as they navigate the pressures of coaching classes, personal relationships, and their own ambitions.

This season addresses important issues like mental health, peer pressure, and the sacrifices made in pursuit of dreams. All the actors deliver outstanding performances, exemplifying their skills and bringing their characters to life. While the season may feel slow-paced at times, its relatability allows for a deeper connection with the characters and their journeys.

Make sure to watch the first two seasons to get to know the characters and the story. The Kota Factory series is a must-watch for its honest look at the dreams and struggles of students.

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Let’s assume you are the kind of person who is unable to find someone of your age who matches your interests and tastes. You feel lonely and want some company. So, you decide to follow people of your age in every way. You sing, dance, draw or attend parties with people, thinking they will like you in turn and befriend you. Whether it’s really the thing YOU want to do doesn’t bother you because you want to combat the insecurity of loneliness. And in that pursuit, you lose your sense of who you are and what matters to you. You are blindly aping your peers to gain their friendship.

Sometimes, you dismiss your preference and adopt a new one. Take, for example, dressing; you shun your style and begin to dress like your peers for want of socialising. At first, you might feel happy being accepted or befriended, but it becomes an obsession over time. Before you go out every time, you will begin to feel the need to choose the outfit that’s acceptable to your peers or makes you look like ‘one with them’. Without realising it, you will slowly be eroding your identity.

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Author: Dr Sajith Cyriac, SSP
Publisher: Better Yourself Books
Publication year: 2022
Pages: 114; Price: Rs 100

‘The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.’

The above quote by Aristotle in this action-oriented book is hard-hitting. How many students today want to gain a distinction in their exams but yet want to put in no effort for the same? We need to learn that what comes easy won’t last and what lasts does not come easy. In this age of instant messaging and instant shopping, Dear Students: Your Pathway to Excellence by Dr Sajith Cyriac, Vice Principal of St Paul’s College Bangalore, educates students that the recipe for success is made tasty by the salt of one’s sweat, tears and hard work.

The book is a series of pep talks in the form of letters to young people wishing to educate them on the different ways to study smart and not long. Topics such as exam stress, study timetable management, peer pressure, school-college dropouts, self-education, memory triggers, etc., are dwelt upon in a simple, quick and precise manner. The writing is engaging and profound, which teaches students the importance of sometimes putting that smartphone down and knowing the difference between knowledge and basic information.

College students can even use it to induce them to goal-directed behaviour. According to Dr Cyriac, practice is a miracle waiting to happen. Stop procrastinating and buy this reflective book to change your study habits. Interpret your study schedule cognitively and responsibly with this life-disciplining self-help book. Learn the difference between positive and negative stress in this world of mass-produced distinctions in board exams — marks are not everything, education is. Don’t stop when you are exhausted; stop when you are done with your work. Revolutionize your school life and your personal relationships with your peers now with Dear Students: Your Path to Excellence.

Available at Better Yourself Books and all St Paul Book Centres in India

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I had been conducting online training for students’ through Zoom and Google Meet since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the Q&A sessions, many students asked me how to manage peer pressure effectively. So, I thought it would be good to share with you my thoughts on how to deal with peer pressure.

What is Peer Pressure?

Peers are people who are part of the same social group, so the term “peer pressure” means the influence that peers can have on each other. The term “peer pressure” is not usually used to describe socially desirable behaviours, such as exercising or studying. If you’re with friends who are doing something that you typically would not do and they convince you to do what they are doing, that is an example of peer pressure.

Peers play a great role in the social and emotional development in young people and adolescents in every society. Their influence begins at an early age and increases through the teenage years. It is natural, healthy and important for young people to have, and rely on friends as they grow and mature. Below are different types of peer pressure:

1. Positive Peer Pressure: Peers can be positive and supportive. They can help each other to develop new skills, or stimulate interest in books, music or extracurricular activities. A group dynamic can be a positive peer influence if the behaviours are healthy, age-appropriate and socially acceptable. For instance, if a peer group wants to make good grades, a young teen can be positively influenced to study. Or if a popular friend wants to earn money and save to buy a bike, a less outgoing teenager may also be influenced to get a part-time job and open a savings account. If members of the football team take a pledge to abstain from drinking alcohol to focus on staying healthy and having a winning season, other students may adopt the same behaviour. Such positive influence needs to be encouraged.

2. Negative Peer Pressure: Negative peer pressure can be very daunting and traumatizing for young people. They can encourage each other to skip classes, steal, cheat, use drugs or alcohol, share inappropriate material online, or become involved in other risky behaviours. The majority of teens with substance abuse problems begin using drugs or alcohol as a result of peer pressure. This pressure can happen in person or on social media.

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