High time to be serious

Let's face it. In our first few days or weeks of school or university, one definitely will go about in a happy-go-lucky manner, without having to do so much assignments and without having to study so much yet. However, more than a month has passed since school and university have started, and as my first test will be held soon, it is high time that we all get into serious business now.

Truly, we cannot be shilly-shallying right now anymore. Although one does not have any assignments, however it is ridiculous to say that there will not be any at all.

Why the sudden serious tone, you might ask? This is actually an advice that the Student Representative Council has put up for us in video form. Their advice is to keep on reminding us about our main purpose of being in UTP. The same goes to those who are studying. It is doubtless that we need relaxation, nevertheless there is always a time for anything.

Another reason for this sudden advice is because I've seen enough students in my university who are still in their holiday mood. Some students still could not be bothered about their assignments, and there are others who can still spend the time of the day playing computer games, hanging out with friends at the cafeterias. It is understandable that they need breaks, however never neglect your work!

Assignments in university are unlike any assignments or projects in schools. Questions from the assignments in university are by far more difficult to understand and solve. Some questions also require detailed explanation besides the answer. Therefore, such assignments normally would take quite a lot of time to complete. For every assignment there will be a specific deadline for you. You are required to complete all the assignments and hand them up before or by a certain date. Assignments in university carry marks for your final examination.

I've seen myself some of my friends who rush to finish their assignments during the last minute. Of course they could complete their work, but as no real effort is being put to complete it, therefore the outcome of their work can be predicted. You will find questions being answered without detailed explanations, or you may even find wrong answers for simple questions because they did their work in a haste to rush for the deadline.

Lecturers in university will not remind you to complete your assignments from time to time. All depends on your own personal discipline. There is a time to play, and a time to work. Nobody will bother (unless you have good coursemates and friends) whether you go for lectures or otherwise, nobody will stop you from leaving the campus late at night and return only two days later. In fact, you have absolute freedom to do anything, but if you want to make achievements, then you'll have to discipline yourselves.

I am quite fed-up of seeing students taking things so easy. They seem to think that university life is easier than school life. Maybe that is so for some students but it has been repeated several times that this is no honeymoon season. The fruit does not simply drop down from trees (except durians; even so, you have to pick them up to get the fruit).

Whatever it may be, just do not neglect what you are having education for.