Al-Watan

Our sons and daughters in intermediate and high schools as well as colleges should take full advantage of the long school vacation and do something constructive with their time. They should not waste their time on trivial pursuits.

This year’s school vacation is long and it should not be wasted. I am not saying that students should not have time for fun. Rather, there needs to be some sort of balance in their lives. Leisure activities are important and needed. Let us all focus on pursuits that are constructive. For example, students should think about starting a small project that might become big in the future and help enhance the economy. Time is of the essence and life is short.

Look at the Japanese and how they have turned their country, which suffers from a severe shortage of natural resources, into one of the most advanced in the world. They started from scratch. Today, they compete with large countries that are home to advanced industries. Japanese students do not waste their time during vacations. They prefer to explore new things, learn new skills and invent new tools. It seems that the words “vacation” and “retirement” do not exist in their vocabulary. Both old and young people respect work. Moreover, they love reading while waiting in queues, traveling, sitting in waiting rooms at hospitals, etc. That is why Japan is among the top 20 countries of the world.

Our country is full of natural resources, some of which have not yet been exploited. Our government makes great efforts to provide an environment that is conducive to achieve success. All we need to do is seize these opportunities and help develop our country. Let us all become involved citizens who play active roles in our society.