The Luxury of Studying
At Georgia Tech, I am surrounded by students (myself included), who are consistently complaining about the amount of work they have to do or how much they are dreading the amount of studying that awaits them. It has become so commonplace to accept studying as an inevitable evil that dooms us all that many of us don’t even realize how much of a blessing it may actually be.
That’s right, studying is a privilege.
There are over 7 billion people on this planet. Out of them, over 1 billion people in developing countries live on $1.25 a day or less. 795 million people, or about one in nine people are not able to get enough to eat. 783 million do not have access to clean and safe water. The list could go on and on. But at the end of the day, all I have to worry about is doing well on my test.
Studying is a luxury. How many people around the world are in a position where they can simply dedicate hours of their time to the sole task of learning? Imagine how many parents, workers, or people in tough situations would just wish that their only concern for the next four years would be reviewing material in order to enhance their knowledge on a certain topic.
In case I sound like I’m preaching, let me be clear – I’m no saint when it comes to studying. I will be the first to admit that studying can be absolutely boring; I try to avoid it for as long as I can. Yes, it feels like a chore. Yes, it is often extremely frustrating and difficult. However, it is, for many of us as college students, the only major priority that we have.
No bills, no having to support our families, and no struggle trying to survive.
So the next time you’re about to complain about how much you hate having to study, take a moment to remember how wonderful it is that your full-time job at college is essentially having to learn, absorb knowledge, and be given a chance to prove it on a test. It something many of us take for granted.
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Intellectual Life advice college gratitude Life philosophy privilege studying
Suraj Sehgal View All →
I am a student, a traveler, an activist, a meditation instructor…. and a blogger!
Come join me on my journey.
Perpetual Change 
Very true! Indeed students should understand this truth. In student life studying seems to be a challenge and boring but when we understand it’s a luxury perspective to look studying changes drastically.
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Reblogged this on Chat and Sip and commented:
I recently met this blogger on Twitter, and he invited me to check out his blog. He has some nice articles. As a current student myself, I can really appreciate this article. I, too, am guilty of feeling the dread of studying, especially the longer I am in school. I have to dig deep to keep myself motivated sometimes.
However, as this post highlights, it truly is a privilege to be able to go to college and study in the he first place. So, I will keep this article in mind the next time I feel like tossing my school book across the room. 😉
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