PUNCTUALITY
They say that punctuality is a virtue. But as I wake up at 7 am and struggle to get to school on time, fighting with the immense lack of sleep and then pushing myself unwillingly through the angry crowd in the subway… I tend to think otherwise.
So what is this “punctuality” that keeps me from starting the day 15 (more) minutes later? My short but rich experience tells me that a man cannot win with time. Therefore, punctuality must be an attempt to at least somehow control it.
As the internet encyclopedia Wikipedia puts it, punctuality is the characteristic of being able to complete a required task or fulfill an obligation before or at a previously-designated time. But a mere dictionary formula cannot fully describe the meaning of one of humanity’s greatest motors. Being late.
Punctuality – a student’s view
Among the many requirements put before a student by the “university environment”, punctuality seems to be simultaneously one of the most importunate and most obvious of them all. Though punctuality is hardly ever enforced, the act of being late notoriously performed (committed) by students, drives many lecturers furious.
As a student I have learned that being on time is actually relative. According to the student’s code, there are precisely five things that you should NOT be late for:
· a date
· an exam
· an appointment with a Polish doctor
· your own wedding
· your own funeral
Similarly, there seem to be five things that you SHOULD be late for as well, as it is thought to be either stylish or simply time-saving and economical. Those occasions include:
· a party
· a class or a lecture at 8 am
· a family reunion
· your best friends wedding
· your own funeral
Many lecturers see it as incomprehensible, that students will most probably come in late for just about anything they can think of – a class, an exam. Anything. My guess is that this can be easily explained, if we only think of punctuality as something that involves a certain level of seriousness. Which makes the phrase “a punctual student” an obvious contradiction.
They say that punctuality is a virtue. But as I wake up at 7 am and struggle to get to school on time, fighting with the immense lack of sleep and then pushing myself unwillingly through the angry crowd in the subway… I tend to think otherwise.
So what is this “punctuality” that keeps me from starting the day 15 (more) minutes later? My short but rich experience tells me that a man cannot win with time. Therefore, punctuality must be an attempt to at least somehow control it.
As the internet encyclopedia Wikipedia puts it, punctuality is the characteristic of being able to complete a required task or fulfill an obligation before or at a previously-designated time. But a mere dictionary formula cannot fully describe the meaning of one of humanity’s greatest motors. Being late.
Punctuality – a student’s view
Among the many requirements put before a student by the “university environment”, punctuality seems to be simultaneously one of the most importunate and most obvious of them all. Though punctuality is hardly ever enforced, the act of being late notoriously performed (committed) by students, drives many lecturers furious.
As a student I have learned that being on time is actually relative. According to the student’s code, there are precisely five things that you should NOT be late for:
· a date
· an exam
· an appointment with a Polish doctor
· your own wedding
· your own funeral
Similarly, there seem to be five things that you SHOULD be late for as well, as it is thought to be either stylish or simply time-saving and economical. Those occasions include:
· a party
· a class or a lecture at 8 am
· a family reunion
· your best friends wedding
· your own funeral
Many lecturers see it as incomprehensible, that students will most probably come in late for just about anything they can think of – a class, an exam. Anything. My guess is that this can be easily explained, if we only think of punctuality as something that involves a certain level of seriousness. Which makes the phrase “a punctual student” an obvious contradiction.
Just few quotations by famous people
“Punctuality is a virtue, if you don't mind being lonely"- Evelyn Waugh
“ I've been on a calendar, but never on time.” - Marylin Monroe
“He was always late on principle, his principle being that punctuality is the thief of time.” - Oscar Wilde
“Men count up the faults of those who keep them waiting.” - French Proverb
“Punctuality is the soul of business.” - Thomas C. Haliburton
“Punctuality is the art of guessing how late the other fellow is going to be” - Alex Taborrek
punctuality ... I am doing everything at the last moment, but for meetings, exams, etc.. always come ahead of time. That taught me Polish railways;) years commuting to school, the university has ensured that the trains come up to an hour ahead of time. Then freeze on a bench in the park, but if I trust the punctuality of buses and railways would always be late everywhere.
ReplyDeleteNice topic :-) Experience teaches that good remedy for other people's lateness is a good book :-)Then you never waste your time waiting. Another important thing is to know how much late you should be... ;-)
ReplyDeleteI've always had a problem with punctuality. The time is and was my enemy :] So probably I'll be late on my funeral as well not counting the weeding.
ReplyDeletePunctuality in not my strong side, particularly in student meaning. But when it's about professional work I try hard to be on time.
ReplyDeletePunctuality is essential if you are dependent of somebody or something. That's even better when you arrive before time.
Usually I try to be always on time. I really hate waiting. It is a clear massage when somebody is late on meeting. To me it means that he/she is not serious and doesn't treat me with respect. Of course sometimes we just can't be on time due to some unpredictable and unexpected situation however mostly people don't care about punctuality.
ReplyDeleteGot to love the thread devoted to possibility of being late or not hehe
ReplyDeleteOn a serious note though, I belive that since the very moment people started messuring time, the ones who come an hour late to a meeting and say "Opppps!" appeared!
I used to be very punctuall, and come to think of it, when it comes to meetings or lectures at University Im still pretty good with time.
I kind of either appear on lecture on time or I dont appear at all, besides some rare cases when traffic stops me.
When it comes to work though.....tragedy. I tend to to everything in the last moment and stressing myself about it.
Even if I plan everything, something will ALWAYS happen and cause me to be doing things on the last day.
Sometimes I get impression that a higher force just wants me to be late. I just cant help but to wonder, wheter there is any sense in fighting it then..