WHAT'S THAT YOUR OCCUPATION AGAIN?

Yes, what is your occupation? 

Musician?
Writer?
Comedian?
Poet?
Banker?
Engineer?
Playwright?
Actress?
Artist?
Footballer?

STUDENT?

Whenever we were asked to fill official forms, and there was a space for occupation or profession, we were swift to fill in STUDENT. After all we were undergraduates, not yet working, at least most of us in the school then. It was a default answer: STUDENT. Any other option was wrong, any other answer was invalid. Yes, we were members of the noble profession of studenthood. Or were we?

A profession is an occupation or activity that a person has expertise in and regularly practise. Most people spend an average of eight hours a day, or forty hours a week on their jobs, on their profession. They diligently keep at it. They do not give excuses for not showing up to work, for not performing them. It is an integral part of their daily routine. They want to do it  because they absolutely have to do it. No if's, no but's. It is their profession, not a guest-activity.

Students have to borrow a leaf from that. If your profession is "a student", then be committed to it. Stick to it. Do something everyday that points to the fact that you are actually a student. A student studies. A student studies regularly. Do you? 

You have to fit in studying into your schedule, and actually study no matter what. You are not a student because you have been enrolled in a learning institution. I will repeat that. YOU ARE NOT A STUDENT BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN ENROLLED IN A LEARNING INSTITUTION. YOU ARE A STUDENT BECAUSE YOU STUDY. It's your profession. Live up to it. There is no point calling yourself what you are not. 

Next time you call yourself a student ask yoursef if you truly are.