The
Life Of A Student
“Many
are called but few are chosen,” that is one of the most popular phrases often
used in the school environment.
From
the plain grounds of Basic and Secondary school, to the hilly contours of
Tertiary institutions, the life of a student is constant yet evolving. A
gradual process that gently transforms the mind into a super productive tool.
The first step is always a surprise but the most basic of all. For most people
it starts between the ages of two and three, when the brain is still whole and
the mind still young.
Pre
School.
At
this age the child is initiated into a cult, an ancient gathering of like minds
in search of knowledge. This cult is the institution known as School. As the
process is, the child admitted into the lowest rank—- Kindergarten or
Pre-Nursery. Where he is taught, what I classify as ‘Cultural Education’. This
is because the child is barely taught anything of logic. He learns how to sing
poems, read the alphabets, colors, hold a pencil, etc. It is an introductory
class, like an athlete limbering up before a marathon race; this young mind is prepped
for what would be the longest race he would ever undertake in life. But like a
fledgling, he has not yet started.
Grade
School.
At
this stage the child is now formerly indoctrinated into the system. The
lifestyle of the student is born. He is taught to wake up early in the morning
in order not to go late to school, learns the school do’s and don’ts. The child
begins to understand that there are consequences; that the school laws are not
to be trifled with. And whenever he or she breaks any of the law justice is tempered
with mercy. Academically the child takes a step forward: logic is introduced.
‘One plus one equals two, and the square root of 64 is 8’. He begins to apply
himself; he begins to think-- to form clear mental images of himself and his
immediate environment and begins to seek different ways of self-expression.
This is when you usually hear ‘I want to be lawyer’, ‘I want to be a doctor’
and so on and so forth. Dreams begin to creep into the young mind, the child is
not confused or unsure-- he knows that as long as he has his parents and
teachers his dreams and goals are only a breath away. The child is now a Pupil
or more literally “a follower”.
High
School.
“Why
is one plus one equal to two?” “Why must I be punished when I come late to
school? What about the teachers who come late to school, who flogs them?”
The
Brain has now divided into the left and right hemispheres-- Logic and
Imaginative hemispheres. But quickly, depending on the educational interest of
the sprouting teenager the left side of the brain dominates his actions. He
breaks the rules just for the fun of it, or he abides by the rule only because
he has ulterior motives (like being a prefect or a course rep). His mind
gradually begins to take shape, although first clouded by confusion. Logic
becomes more complex as he dives into Introductory Calculus, extra-curricular
activities-- Basketball, Football, School Clubs, Competitions-- becomes a part
of him. The World is wider and broader. He is no longer a fledgling, he is now
an amateur. He becomes bored with the present system, after spending over a
decade trapped in it. He is now ready for another adventure in much more
broader society. He is now a Student.
College.
He
begins again as an ‘omotos’, drooling at every lecturer-- attentive at every
lecture. He is eager to learn as a child, quick to understand. But as he climbs
up the ladder, he gradually begins to focus on the unlimited ‘extra-curricular’
activities of this now familiar vast environment. He may go straight or he may
lose sight of his path along the way, but either way the life of the student
expands. Student President, Student Court, Student Secretary and many more
political offices alerts the now, young adult, that more than ever the real
world is close. The life style of the student becomes a mixture of everyday
real life activities and the soothing voices of the college professors. The title ‘Student’ is no longer appropriate
as the world now thinks him formerly enlightened, ‘a little master’ as it were.
He becomes a Bachelor.
M
Phil, PhD.
“What’s
more,” he says, “Call me lord.”
There
is no mountain to climb, no more seas to sail, no more boring lectures in
crowdy halls. Simply put, he is now a master. Life and school are now merged
together. While he attends international meetings he still meets up the time
for lectures, he is treated as colleague rather than a student. And when he is
finally through, he becomes: Philosophiae
Doctoriae.
The
Real Life Student.
Every
true student of knowledge knows that even when he becomes a master, learning
never ends. The Master whether he likes it or not, or is ignorant of it, is now
in a greater lecture hall. The Lecture Hall of Life. From dust was I made, and
unto dust shall I return: he started learning informally and now he returns back
to informal learning. The Master is also saddled with the responsibility of
passing down his knowledge to the younger generation of student. Therefore
continuing the great cycle of education. And as time goes, and the body and
mind slowly fades he becomes an Emeritus.
But
no matter how basic or how high you reach as a student, a few things does not
change in your lifestyle:
.
Waking Up Early
.
Reading
.
Curiosity/ Constant Thirst For Knowledge
.
Problem Solving
.
Innovation/ Creativity
Just
to mention a few.
The
life of a student is a never ending process, a never ending journey from birth
till death.
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Pl
