Apple

Which one Is more difficult to do? Having Self-control or doing what you think you would never do? 

First, let’s present some simple situations. You have 3 pesos in your pocket. You’re very hungry and you find a basket of apples being sold by a merchant. You can’t afford to buy it but an opportunity comes when the merchant goes off for a while to get something from the back of her store. No one is watching, you can’t afford it… but you can take it for free. 

On the other hand, with the same situation, the merchant leaves for a while to get something from the back of her store. You’re standing near the basket with no one watching. You’re thinking, if I take this, no one will ever know and no harm done. But if I take it, my conscience will hunt me, I also harm the merchant from stealing from her. So then, you decided not to take anything. This case you have self-control.

Therefore, which one is more difficult: Having self-control or doing what your heart’s desire thinking only of your own gain? Same goes with any situation. Given opportunity to do two things… having a clear conscience or a colloid conscience harming others and in the long run, yourself. Which one is more important: Your fleshly desires or a clear conscience? 

Finally, the merchant comes back sees you looking at the apples. Then she gives you one, knowing that you didn’t take anything even if there was an opportunity. She smiles at you and thanked you. This case, you satisfied your hunger and you still have a clear conscience. You also gained a friend. 

Lesson: Self-control, there is no law against it. In the long run, you gain more. And you win!

Sitting in college classes

The world offers divisions that will always be a challenge for people to overcome. Society would emphasize the difference of one from another in terms of colors, languages, beliefs, height or even weight. A place called “college”, however, welcomes such divisions in the degrees, majors, subjects and schedules students take. Divisions in college can also be found in unrecognized areas like the case of sitting arrangement.

The sitting arrangements in class give each individual an identity and the freedom to choose from. Students can choose from front, middle, back or the outside-the-room rows. The choice they make can be influenced by many aspects. 

The front rows are often preferred by students who are more or less considered intelligent. Students who choose or forced to sit in the first row are mostly students who feel the subject is interesting; thinks the teacher is attractive; likes challenging subjects; or students who didn’t have a choice otherwise they end up sitting on the floor at the back. 

The middle row reflects those students who are neutral. They occupy probably, the 3^rd,4^th to 5^th rows if there are 8 rows. They want to be safe, not to be called upon frequently, do not like challenges much, and they don’t like to get the professor’s attention either. Or students who have grudges because the first and the second row are already full. 

The back row, on the other hand, welcomes students who relax and learn at the same time. They are those who like chatting with their friends more than listening to their professors. They like to eat, nap, day dream during classes. Well, that is when their professors are busy writing stuff on the board not knowing that scrambled paper are dropping like bombs from behind. Or paper planes carrying love letters fly from Romeo to Juliet. But these students cannot be under estimated, they get high scores if not highest during exams. There are disguised geniuses and human scanner among their midst. 

There is another division that shouldn’t be forgotten. They are those who occupy the chairs outside the room. Those are the early birds for the next class. 

There would be instances, however, that the different divisions of sitting arrangement would change in terms of student preference, classroom environment, and other personal reasons. Some students would choose a combination of the two or even all kinds of divisions each according to the subjects they take. Again, they can choose from the 4 divisions or rows. The front row for those who are considered to be more or less intelligent, middle rows for students who are neutral, back rows for those who like a relaxed way to learn, and the outside-the-room rows for those who came late. 

by: RAK

editor: Adel