Children develop at a different pace – some are fast at picking things up while others are slow learners. There are also those who are late bloomers.
Students should never be allowed to quit school just because they are not doing well in their studies.
When I was in primary school, many of my friends were average students. But when it came to our upper secondary years, they started doing really well and later went on to have very successful careers. They were late bloomers.
Ultimately, it is the end, and not the beginning, that matters. It doesn’t matter if early in life you were a mediocre student. Different people peak at different times.
Peer group influence could be another reason for children to drop out or play truant, especially if they are struggling with their studies.
They envy friends who own motorbikes, and long to enjoy life. These students end up skipping classes to work so that they too can buy their own bikes. That is when things spiral, and their interest in their studies wanes even more.
Having had a taste of the fun life, they eventually drop out. Their future, as a consequence, is laid to waste.
Students need to be reminded that hard work and perseverance are the keys to success. There are no two ways about it.
In life, there is a time for everything – a time for studying and a time for enjoyment. Make the best of your schooling years so that you can move forward in life. Stay focused to ward off temptations as you navigate your academic challenges. Don’t live to regret not making good use of your schooling days.
THIAGAN MATHIAPARANAM
Klang
