The more we do now the happier we will be afterwards
William Jackson of Birkenhead, a member of the British Parliament, shows us how we can improve ourselves. His father, a surgeon, died leaving a family of eleven children.
William was the seventh son. While the father was alive, the elder sons had a good education. But after his death, the younger children had to fend for themselves. William, at eleven years of age, was taken out from school since there was nobody to pay for his education. He had to work at the docks from six in the morning to nine at night to read every single line of all volumes of the encyclopedia Britannica. He studied at night. Later he put himself to a trade. He was diligent and he successes at it. After some years he had his own ships sailing on all the oceans of the world. Besides he had commercial relations with practically every country on the globe.
Do not let the hardship and problems rule over you. You should overcome them with courage and fortitude. You should have faith in your capabilities. Only then will you be able to achieve success in life.
Are you self disciplined!
At times, in school, a certain work is tough or certain orders are difficult to obey. Still, do the work and carry out the orders and you will discipline yourself to you own advantage. What would happen in a garden if very plant grew as it liked? There are would be too little to admire in it. Similarly in school you must be a plant in the hands of and under the direction of your superiors. They see your own good. Your parents, superiors and teachers cannot say yes to everything you want. You must train yourself to accept `yes’ or `no’ and to have your wishes opposed and controlled. You must learn to deny yourself certain things you like. Bear cheerfully the arrangements you do not like. It is a sign of a mature person to settle difference and to reach a compromise.
Do you have enough self-control?
A boy without self-control is just like a wild runway horse. Lack of self-control leads us towards greater pitfalls; pride, impurity, anger, envy and laziness. A person without self-control becomes a salve to his mind and is liable to break every law. Such a person can be a danger to the state and to the society. You must learn to face opposition. The school will give you ample opportunities to test yourself and to measure your likes and dislikes. This will be helpful when in later life greater and more difficult situations will arise.