An Ideal Student

The period of high hopes and lofty ideas, full of energy and action, should have a sound health, thirst for knowledge, developing manners and changing personality, with a spirit of social service, patriotic,

The future of a country depends not on soldiers and merchants but on students and scholars. Dr. Annie beautifully remarks, “The destiny of nation is folded within its budding youth, as is the flower, within the close embrace of the petals, that what our youths think to-day the nation will think to-marrow”. Standing on the threshold of budding youth, a student cherishes splendid visions, colourful dreams and hopes. It is the spring time of his life when his energies are ready trequally for the good and the evil channels. Rightly has it been described as the period of preparatory exercise for the practical duties of manhood. A student, therefore should very carefully observe the path he walks upon during this period, and make his life a living success by a judicious application of his energies in right channels.
The first duty of an ideal student therefore is to keep his body healthy, active and agile. A sound mind lives in a sound body. To keep his mind safe and strong against the attacks of disease and sickness, he should take a keen interest in games and sports and also do different physical exercises. Games not only build his health but also play an important part in the formation of his character and personality. Games give students initiative for leadership, team spirit and sportsmanship. The proverb says, “The battle of waterloo was won on the play grounds of Eton”. That is why several courses of military training are introduced in schools and colleges. It is simply with a view to develop the health of students and to build their character. So it is the duty of every student to participate in these activities and serve both his own interest and the interests of his country. So and ideal student is never careless of his health and physical fitness, He builds his muscles by healthy exercises. He recognizes the dignity of manual labor, and adopts simplicity and self-restraint.
On the intellectual side, an ideal student should devote a greater part of his time in the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. He should put his whole heart in the books, as “Reading math a perfect man”. An ideal student has a deep love for books and goes to the library regularly. But at the same time he does not lose the glow of his own individuality or become a slave of other people’s thoughts. He reads not to accept or to reject but to weigh and consider, forming his own independent judgment, and searching the truth. He worships truth and knowledge because he knows that truth is beauty and knowledge is power. He knows well that knowledge without character is wickedness just as force without justice is tyranny. A good student should, therefor not only develop his knowledge but also his moral character. Obedience of parents, respect for teachers, and sympathy for the poor, love for all and malice toward none should be his chief moral ideals. Courtesy costs nothing but it pays a lot. A spirit of tolerance, discipline and decency, civic sense and self-control, all these qualities should be there in an ideal student.
An ideal student should be inspired with patriotic sentiments and should always volunteer himself for social service. Pakistan needs students with muscles of iron, nerves of steel and very strong will. An ideal student would never be terrified or disappointed by difficulties and dangers, how so ever alarming they may be. He regards life as a perpetual struggle and faces its trials with a spirit of bravery, fortitude and self-trust.
In flood or famine an ideal student comes forward to rescue the distressed. He feeds the hungry, nurses the sick and clothes the naked. And he does all this without any selfish motive. In every country students are the hopes of the future. They can do a lot for the mass reformation and social reconstruction of their country. No doubt we have achieved political freedom but we have yet to achieve freedom from orthodoxy, illiteracy and many other social evils. Students can help us in achieving social freedom as much as they did in achieving political freedom.
To sum up, an ideal student is one who draws out all the faculties of his nature, develops in himself every intellectual and moral power. he strengthens himself physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. He is a useful citizen and a patriotic who respects himself and all those around him.