English Column: Undergraduates, Time and Abundance
“Life is too short to NOT be creative”
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English Column: Undergraduates, Time and Abundance
As an undergraduate, the question that I have troubles answering is, “What do you do in your free time?”
The question is simple right? It just asks a simple explanation on how I spend my free time. It’s so easy, I can’t do it right.
But despite the simplicity of the question, despite the straightforwardness of the inquiry, each time that question comes vibrating my ear drums, I cannot answer.
If I answer, I have to lie by saying “Oh. I’m usually busy studying.”
Say, “I’m busy studying.” There are two things here, one “You are busy”, second “You are studying.”
Let me ask all undergraduates out there, are you really, REALLY “Busy studying”?
Of “Busy” and “Studying”
To be busy is one thing and to be studying is another thing. And both are mostly untrue. If you ask every living person who have graduated from university and currently working in any industry, ask them “which one is busier, studying or working?”
I assure you, the answer would be “working.”
Reflecting on this, the reason why I cannot answer “What do you do in your free time?” with an honest answer is because I’ve lost track of time on how long have I spent my free time watching a marathon of movie series, cartoons and playing games.
To be called “The Cream of The Society”, the so-called “intellectual” and “The Young Hope”, but in fact the abundance of time as an undergraduate is spent for playing games, movie marathons, I feel that I am an embarrassment.
It is undeniable that some games are good for the intellect. For example the strategy game Total War: Rome II prepare gamers on the tactical and strategy on how to become the world’s superpower. The game enables gamers to immerse in a simulation of how would you act as a leader of a nation dominating other empires by means of military, economy and politics without risking your own country’s economic growth and welfare of your people.
But games like PES and FIFA which are games ‘running in circles’ without life threatening challenges and predominantly the most games played by undergraduates in their free time, what else can be said other than ‘a waste of time’?
The undergraduates spending hours of movie marathon, claiming that they watch American movie series to improve their ‘English’ and Korean series to learn the Korean language. But why their English or Koreans have not yet improved? Did they really while watching the movies, jot done new words in their small note book and later search for the meaning on their dictionary app on the phones?
So can we accept the answer “busy” and “studying”?
If We are REALLY Busy and Studying
If we are really “busy”, we do not have to apply a study loan as we can self-sponsor our study fees and daily expenses because we are “busy” day and night working part-time. I know many friends of mine who are this “busy”. In the morning they go to classes and at night they work at the Mc Donalds or as a cashier at a Petrol Station or as a part-time teacher.
If we really are “studying”, we can finish our degree in just two years and a half instead of four years and a friend of mine did that (not for medical students I mean).
But have we really been busy and studying?
The Intellectual Level of an Undergrad
Being an undergraduate studying in the university, going to the daily kulliyahs are not solely to aim high sky CGPA in the exams. Undergraduates have to look several steps ahead picturing how the society will be more civilized if they share the knowledge they have with the society.
Undergraduates do not enter the university to be happy and take pictures on their convocation day. But to be equipped with the expertise of different fields should be made their daily routine.
Undergraduates should not quarantine themselves in their rooms or in their usrah but should engage in intellectual discussions.
No Discrimination on Reading Materials
That day I went to an Islamic Book Expo in Selangor accompanying my childhood friend Hilal Asyraf, he had to deliver a talk there.
As he delivered the talk, I went scouting for books. I was attracted by a book related to Islamic Early Childhood Education. But upon skimming through the book, I was disappointed.
The book explained the subject matter by citing only from the Quran and Hadith. No mention of cognitive works by Jean Piaget, no mention of the Freudian psychosexual development, no mention of Glen Doman’s method for teaching reading to infants and no mention of any scholars other than ‘Muslim Scholars.’
I’m not saying that Quran and Sunnah are insufficient, I’m saying that reading should encompass all with no discrimination of a certain group of people. They may not have beards or Arabic names or wearing kopiahs, they are not Muslims, but their ideas are Islamic.
The intellectual level of undergraduates should be more advanced than being afraid that one’s belief system might be at stake by reading materials other than the writings of Muslims.
Whatever good and relevance we see in people even though they do not share the same belief system as us, we have to take into account.
Conclusion: Why are we the Least Respected and Called as Kids?
Everyone remembers the 5-minute lowering the Prime Minister’s flag incident right?
Undergraduates should know that to spark change in the society, respect is firstly needed not revolt. Respect comes first, then, comes change.
Revolting may cause disrespect from the people. Revolting may just make us look like the bad guy when actually we have solid reasons to be on the right side. Making demonstrations after demonstrations without following it up with charity work is unbalanced.
Becoming respectful intellectuals, inspirational academicians and motivational leaders should be the route taken by undergraduates. It is a longer route true but an assuring one. It is difficult to deny the greatness coming from figures that are known to contribute unconditional charity to society.
When students are notable intellectuals, no one will call them kids anymore despite being young. No one can deny the brilliance of ideas brought forth as the hearts of the people have already been won.
~Ameen Misran
ameen.misran@langitilahi.com
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