The Journey These Students Take to School Will Make You Value Education

Most of us caught the bus, got dropped off by our parents, or walked a couple of blocks to school. And most of us have been late on our journeys to school once or a few too many times. When we were late, there was always the excuse of traffic, the bus broke down, or we missed it because we were talking to our friends. Over all, our journeys to school were pretty routine.

When it comes to getting into a routine, we tend to take advantage of things. In this case, our education. We knew the different routes to get to school the fastest and we knew classes would be in session when we got there. We didn’t have to worry about walking through a war zone, journeying for five hours through icy mountains, or tightrope walks above a flowing river to get to school.  

  

At some point we’ve been guilty of not caring about our education and complaining about having to go to school. But after learning about what these students around the world have to experience on their journeys to school, you may just realize how lucky we are and how precious education is.

Children in Sanghiang Tanjung, Indonesia venture across a broken suspension bridge.

Children from Batu Busuk village in Sumatra, Indonesia, tightrope walk 30 feet above a flowing river, followed by a 7-mile walk.

In the Philippines, elementary school students use inflated tubes to cross a river on the way to school in Rizal Province, followed by at least one hour of walking.

Vietnam students swim twice a day across a river to attend school at Trong Hoa commune, Minh Hoa district

In Columbia, kids who live in the rainforest journey to school down steel cables at 50 miles per hour.

It’s a 125 mile journey for boarding school students in China through mountains of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.

Parents take their children through the Himalayas across ice and frost to boarding school.

A young girl in refugee camp Shuafat, near Jerusalem, walks to school despite the violence taking place between Israeli troops and Palestinian protestors.

These pictures of various journeys to school are to put some perspective of the common complaint we hear of “I don’t want to go to school today”. While some of us take school and educational opportunities for granted, there are young children around the world whose journeys to school are risky but, to them, it’s worth it all to get to school and learn.

Do you think your education is worth the risk? Maybe instead of teaching students how to get rich or what they need to do to get the best job out there, we should be teaching students how to value education.

THINGS UNDERGRADUATES WISH THEY HAD KNOWN

1. Take it seriously.

You’re on your own and you can make your own decisions, like partying all night and skipping class the next day. Respect the fact that you worked hard to get admitted to the university and that your future is right around the corner. Have fun when you can, but prioritize your schoolwork. Contrary to popular belief, you are really at a university to get an education and in the future your grades will matter. So try not to slack off your fresher year and then have to spend the rest of your undergraduate years trying to make up for that rough first session. The first session of a university is the most important in terms of building grades. You will want to make sure you start on a high note as it gets more difficult maintaining your CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) as you go higher. It’s a myth that the workload in year one is the highest. While it may appear as such, in reality, the workload never ends. Infact, year one is the easiest as what you will be doing wouldn’t be strange to you. Courses will be more like what you’ve learned in high school.

2. If you don’t like your course, change it. Or at least try to.
This cannot be taken lightly as a lot of the courses people are admitted in for are not their courses of first choice. Look, if you know the course you’re taking now is not for you, please apply for change of department. It’s even easy now to change departments within a faculty. Even if it means you may have to restart, it will be worth it at the end. You don’t want to spend the rest of your 3 or 4 years in school lamenting about how you don’t like maths or how the number of courses you offer in a semester is too many. When you resume, look at your department handbook. If it’s not what you thought it’ll be, you are still a fresher and now is the time to do something about it. You don’t want to join the 90% of Unilag students who are not happy with their course of study.

3. Befriend your 4Cs
Your 4Cs are your Course Advisor, Course Representative, Course Seniors and Course Lecturers.
Course advisor: Meeting with your course advisor is important. He/She is the one who sign off your academic evaluation, which lets you know which courses you’ve already taken and how many credit units you still need to graduate. Every course has a curriculum model, usually pre-arranged with a class schedule for each semester. Some classes have pre-requisites, but you can usually play around with the order. Your course advisor is your go-to when you have any questions regarding your academics. Trust me, you will want to be in a good relationship with whoever the person is. The person can make or mar your career in the University.
Course Representative AKA Class rep AKA Class governor: If you’re not going to be friends with anybody, at least be friends with your class rep (Class captain). He is the primary source of information. Remember…
Information = knowledge
Knowledge = Power
Power = Favour
Favour = Good grades
Therefore,            Information = Good grades
This is even more prominent when you befriend your..
Course Lecturers: This one is a no-brainer. When you get the favour of lecturers, it can transmit to good grades directly or indirectly. Although it is rare for professors to lecture freshers, if it happens, you will want to make him/her your friend. Hell no! Make him your bestie. You cannot joke with the kind of influence professors have.
Course Seniors: Your course seniors can guide you through out your Fresher year. They can provide you with materials and reality checks you’ll need to progress to the next level.
P:S You’ll also want to be careful with both your course lecturers and seniors. You’re a fresher and whether you admit it or not, you’re bit vulnerable. So ladies, beware of those lecturers that call you to their offices all the time and seniors that always want to meet up at night.

4. Do All What You can do Now.
Infact do all what is available to do now. Your year 1 is the time of your schooling when you’re most full of energy; when your expectations have not yet been dashed. In clearer Yoruba terms, when “tișa o ti fő ę lę epon”. So your medicals, bio data forms, especially your medicals… complete it. Meet with a program counsellor at least once to make sure you’re on track to satisfy all of the requirements for graduation (like your medicals). Many people end up taking a huge chunk of their valuable final year time completing their medicals or more costly having an extra year of school because they misunderstood what counted as a science elective for a history compulsory course. You don’t want to make that mistake. Other students get stuck because they don’t realize that the courses required for graduation may be there one semester but *poof* are gone the next. Sure, they’ll be offered again, but sometimes not in time to fit in with your master plan for life. So, if a prerequisite is available now, take it now!


SOURCE: Sugarbrand

HOW EDUCATION AND SCHOOL IS KILLING OUR NATURAL CREATIVITY

Is it a coincidence that pretty much all children,teenagers and youths love to write stories, have fantastic imaginations, enjoy getting messy, painting, making music, inventing characters, acting out plays, drawing and making things?

 Why don’t we carry this natural capacity throughout adulthood? Why would nature intend us to lose these gifts? The global creativity gap in five of the world’s largest economies, with the look of things shows 8 in 10 people feel that unlocking creativity is critical to economic growth and nearly two-thirds of respondents feel creativity is valuable to society, yet a striking minority – only 1 in 4 people – believe they are living up to their own creative potential. 

More than half of those checked feel that creativity is being stifled by their education systems, and many believe creativity is taken for granted . Particularly in Nigeria for instance,all our parents know is education, only 20% of our parents check out our talent and encourage us to develop it.That discourages lots of children and even teenagers. 

Using myself as a perfect example,i would say i love acting and want to develop it later in life but all i get from my parents is ” theatre artiste are all bad and most of them not make it like ,doctors,lawyers and the likes”. Seriously an average teenager would lost or rather throw away that dream. With reference, i’d say,most Nigerian artiste,actors,dancers,musicians started at the early stage of their lives,e.g;Emmanuella [the young commedian],Ada [the little girl who dances],et ce teria. Of course these talents cant rub off on the sands of time,it has come to an extent where they make good influence and encouragement and even challenge to youths,teenagers and children But on the part of education what do we get; politicians with evil intentions,unemployed citizens turning thugs due to discouragement on the part of their talents. 

For some of the more creative kids,teenagers and youths, their creativity will help them survive their standardized school years. For others, this standardization crushes their passions, spirits, joy. I believe the biggest ethical travesty of our times is extinguishing a child’s passion. 

ABAYOMI DELLA ADEOLA, 
FACULTY OF LAW, 
OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY.

Ways Students can Stay Productive While Studying

While students try to achieve good results in education, this process may be labor-intensive. So, they need to stay focused and productive. One way to become productive is to organize a working place right. No matter where you study, at university or home, you need to keep your workplace organized.
Here come seven must-try ways to stay productive while studying.

  

1.    Get Rid of Extra Stuff
If you want to save your time, clean up your writing desk. Use lockers to hide unnecessary stuff: drafts, books, and utensils should be there if you don’t use them. But, it is better to keep important things closer to you. You need to have a lamp, stickers, a pen/pencil next to you. Organize your writing desk to boost productivity.

2.    Put Live Plants
Live plants not only clean the air but boost spirits. Besides, they reduce stress. Decorate your writing desk with plants to see what impact they have on your productivity. Explore more about the best plants for your home.

3.    Use Modern Gadgets
Students live in the digital era today, getting the most out of technological progress. While students surf the Internet to learn something, many gadgets can help them do this, too. For example, one can se a digital highlighter to translate, save, and transfer te

4.    Paint Your Walls
Two colors impact productivity and focus: blue and green. Many students are on a tight budget, but there is always a way out. Repairing is often expensive, but you can always ask friends to help with a renovation for free. Ask them to do you a favor: Paint your room together.

5.    Find a Place For Inspiration
No matter how much time you spend on education, you need some inspiration to succeed. The educational process is not only about studying but inspiring. Find a cozy place where you can put favorite books, quotes or paintings, and a music box. If you feel tired, come to this non-computer zone and relax.

6.    Pick Up a Comfortable Chair
If you want to reduce a risk of health disorders and promote a good posture, think of choosing a comfortable chair. It should support the lower back and be cozy to sit. You better write down this advice, as it’s useful indeed.

7.    Study Standing

Scientists claim that study/work standing can strengthen your back and neck. Try to read books or articles while standing to see whether it can help you improve your health.