Undergraduate students of Bangladesh – are we giving up too early?

Nowreen Afsana

I can still remember the day of orientation of my university, the day when I realized I am no longer the adolescent one in the family. As the younger child, I was always told to walk upon the footsteps of my elder siblings. Day after day I have been listening to bits of advice regarding life which, I won’t oppose, was always inspiring and motivating for me. There is no denying that within a very short time, we somehow grew up – being the “tantrum master of the house” to “being the tantrum listener”!

For students, our struggles begin from our own society. We are perpetually compared with some brainiac in the neighbourhood excelling in every worldly things! Every person has their own level of intelligence and interest on which they should work on. However, some students fail to discover it at an early age. As a consequence of this “delay”, they lack the drive to aim for their future due to the concept of failure inside them. During this phase of hardship, the support from our own family is what that counts the most. Family always has an immense contribution in the mental development of a kid while surpassing any misery.

Tendency of judging a student, in our community, arise from the grading systems. Grades divide student on the foundation of marks. It is the system of education in this country which enforces competition in form of exams. Many countries have eliminated examination till elementary school, to emphasis more on furnishing basics on English, Mathematics and Science instead of inducing fierce contest for the excellence of marks.

Every student is afflicted by the everlasting competitive atmosphere encompassing them. Not everyone has the level of intellect to bring about a “perfect” result. Many students work day and night but can only contrive a passing grade whereas there are others who hardly put much effort and taks away the “prize”. Academics and good grades might not be a challenge for everyone, but for some of us it is a real cause of demoralization. Being a student, we can tremendously connect our lives with the film “3-idiots”, and yet how often do we truly relate to the titular hero Rancho’s journey? How he managed to convince his friends; Farhan to chase after his dreams, and Raju to believe in himself. Therefore, it is not always about winning alone; rather it is about bringing the success altogether in every possible aspect.

As a reminder of the gravity of the expectations regarding “perfect” grades, we encounter the sudden demise of students because of suicide. This was a vivid illustration of the degree of burden that is thrown onto a student, its eventual outcome. Pressure of deadlines and failure to complete projects on time, can make students so vulnerable that they take their own lives. When any person chooses the path of self-destruction, it is a failure of the society, and that includes parents, teachers, relatives, neighbours, and yes, you…

As for the case of our respected faculties, it is often observed that teachers tend to give that “extra edge” of support to their “favourite ones” usually the “good students”. This has always been a great deal for many of the students struggling to win that edge. This sequence of events is never a good environment for the struggling students, who come up short despite their best efforts. Subsequently, this never-ending “pursuit of happiness” persists because not all teachers are gratified, despite the highest levels of exertions by the students.

Amongst a variety of turmoils, there are only a handful of students with the enthusiasm of moving forward. We all are taught, time and again, that bad grades lead to “bad” careers. Now, if that is the case, then how did Bill Gates manage to pursue his ambitions even after being dropped out of Harvard University? Was it the grades that took him ahead, or was it the passion? We often lack the inner drive which is necessary to fulfil our vision and goal. No matter what grades you receive, you need equal amount of passion.

Getting into a top ranked university is like a dream that emerges as we grow. However, if you miss out on getting into one, this does not hinder you from reaching your dreams! Universities can only provide a certain level of recognition. Almost all universities, both public and private, of our country have first-class faculties. It is your diligent attempts that make you who you are, not your university, not your faculty, and most importantly not your grades! For instance, Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba Group, after flopping for the third time in admission exam, he chose to study English in a local institute. Despite not being in the top ranked university of his choice, he cracked the remarkable business idea, worth billions of dollars. Thus, try to embrace refusals because, like the over-used (but true!) dialogue – “Failure is the pillar of success”.

Thomas Alva Edison once stated that, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success, when they gave up”. In accordance with the quote, people often seem to abandon hope too early, tormented by constant defeat and rejections. Nobody said life will be easy. As famously remembered – Edison, before discovering the exact way to light a bulb, failed a whopping 999 times. So never stop trying and never stop believing. Gather your horses because sky is the limit!

Both nationally and internationally, a scholar is not assessed only on the grounds of academics, rather holistically – upon the life experiences they gathered throughout their studenthood. According to recent analytics and statistics, developed countries like Australia, UK, USA, etc, screen students more on qualitative terms, such as interactive ability, creativity, subjective and practical task fulfilment aptitude, and moral values.

The voyage of being a student is unique – we all are our own Captain Jack Sparrow! One might not be “elite” – but that does mean you can give away the gusto of aiming for the best! The team of Shabash Fakibaj is always here to guide and grow you to the best of you potential! So, buckle up, and don’t kill your aspirations on being a supreme human intellect, and develop yourself on the passion that thrives you! Love and support for you all!