I recall my parents both telling me to watch out for those trouble makers, as if I could tell them apart. But then as I mingled with class mates I developed relationships with some by sheer coincidence while others because I didn’t have the knowledge or experience to sift out the bad chums.

Everyone was different and I found the loud ones appealing and the mischievous ones somewhat exciting! Unless they acted completely foolish in my inexperienced view I would befriend them. Gary Baker played football, was a rough guy with admirable charm, and pleased the ladies. He had the looks of a young handsome gigolo – not that I had a clue what a gigolo was at the time, but I still remember his outward way with people.

We were never that close because he seemed to be in a class of his own, and wooed everyone around him. He smoked and was a bad boy, and that made me want to be like him. Of course, dream on, it would never happen, but I did form a small group, ‘my gang’, at the time when Gary Glitter had a number one title called, ‘Do ya wanna be in my gang’, which took the charts by storm. All the boys in school would chant away during class breaks.

As a gang leader I was expected to fight other gang leaders. Kids stuff really, but it was scary! I used to try and avoid full contact brawls while walking the playgrounds or corridors, but one thing would lead to another and ultimately the big moment would arrive. 'Come on then’, some rival would shout in my face. It was time; let the battle begin. Fortunately I could look after myself. Don’t ask me how, I suppose I was lucky.

The point is many people I mixed with influenced me in many ways; some good, and some bad. When we are young it’s difficult to decide what is right and what is wrong, but the best bet is to watch out for those colleagues who do things that are morally wrong. There is no need to copy them, but pity them would be the best form of defense instead of following their path.

It’s a learning curve; and no one can tell us how we should react. What I learned was that it added to my ability to deal with things myself without needing to turn to others and constantly bombard them with an insecurity complex. Students need to develop themselves to take on challenges.

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