In colleages and univesities, there are two other ways to gain knowledge apart from regular classes. One is to pursue individual studies and the other is to attend lectures. While I attach much importance to self-studies., I won't give up any opportunity to attend a good lecture.

 

Obviously, independent work is vital to college studies. It is inconceivable that one can gain any knowledge without spending solitary hours on reading and writing, nor is conceivable that one can achieve any success without applying an independent thought to the problem you want to solve. Often a good solution, or a great truth grows out of one's personal arduous studies in the library.

 

But nothing is so foolish as to refuse to expose yourself to liberating lectures if you want to make your studies more efficient and effective.True, library literature can offer you a great treasury, and thinking is essential to getting creative ideas. But as science in every field develops quickly, new ideas and theories can't be immediately recorded and published. You often have to wait for a long time before a brilliant person can write down his ideas and form a book.

 

Yet one hour of a lecture will help solve the problem which may puzzle you for months. Why has it never occurred to me that planned economy and free enterprise really go very well together? How stupid of me not realize that climate and geography exert a great influence on human behavior! Opinions we have long held are promptly modified; puzzled we have been seeking to explain are thrown a profond light on.

 

We need both individual studies and attending lectures. The former helps sharpen our awareness, and the latter contributes to broadening our minds. The secrets of academic success lie in the combination of both.