Pick up a book and read

Spencer Robinson , Suva

I can still clearly recall the constant reminders from my primary and secondary school teachers of the importance of reading books. Often times as students, we were told of making use of the school library to read the local dailies and be informed of what is happening locally, regionally and internationally.

Our teachers also stressed the significance of taking story books for the weekend to read as it would improve on our English, both written and spoken. I took their advice, read a few books but not religiously. All this did not seem important to me at that time! However, this invaluable advice rang loud bells of significance when I left high school and progressed to tertiary studies to undertake an undergraduate Agriculture Diploma. It was during those three years of undergraduate studies that I had to put in extra effort to read widely, especially, in my final year of Management Research based on A Critical Analysis of Value Adding on Fijian Agricultural Produce.

I managed to complete my studies and graduated with flying colours. However, the very advice and motivation from my primary and secondary school teachers never ceases to fade from my mind on the importance of reading books. I remember the advice with appreciation and imagine if I had taken reading very seriously during this compulsory education period.

Perhaps I would not have to put in the extra effort and probably done even better in tertiary studies. Sometimes things are meant to be or "everything happens for a reason." Perhaps this could be the very reason for this contribution to this column, sharing my experiences to continue the legacy of my primary and secondary teachers to stress the importance of reading books and newspapers to our youngsters and future leaders of tomorrow.

I am also indebted to acknowledge the advice of my University Professors including Visiting Professors who had taught and continue to teach in my current postgraduate studies.

A former Visiting Professor who taught me in one of my Masters unit (Contemporary Issues in Asia Pacific) re-emphasized the significance of reading well and widely. He told a story of "a toad under the coconut shell" to illustrate what he had meant. He said that if you did not take reading seriously then you are equivalent to that of "a toad under a coconut shell." That is, you would not know what is happening around you and your knowledge is limited around the rim and enclosure of the coconut shell in the story illustration. I have not forgotten this story because it has continued to motivate me till to date. I wish to thank this Visiting Professor for his words of inspiration and motivation. Indeed it is very hard to find academics of this calibre that go up to the point to explain concepts and issues until you fully grasp the idea. He was a simple academic, very intelligent but different (from the others) as it would be very rare to find another academic like him. He also said that there is a "genius inside of everyone" and that we must not underestimate our potential either academically or in other areas of our lives.

This is my story and a simple contribution to this column which I hope will continue to motivate everyone on the importance of not just reading, but reading "properly and widely" as it will improve your ability to write as well.