Comparison and Contrast Essay

Activist or Academic? 
by Aulia Dhian Rakhmadhani

12320028

 

Each student has different ideas though they may have the same goal. They always do what they want according to their interests and talents they have. They also have the right to decide their own choice. Then, what do they think about being an activist or academic student? Actually, it is not very serious problem for them due to become an activist or academic student is mutually beneficial. However, there are some different arguments between activist and academic student.

Both academics and activists have the same direction. They have the advantages of each and their own ways, where academics have high level of intellect through education and activists have the same skills that can be equated with academics. Usually activists do not immediately pass themselves because they are too busy with their activities. However, some of them can already play a role in society before their graduation. The important thing is where they decide to go on the path they want to go through, they know where they heading, and concentrate on steps to prevent the wrong way. Academics students are not only study, go home and achieve a high GPA without knowing about the common knowledge, but they should have intelligence and can prove it. Academics and activists will find their careers on their own ways. Even an academic can be from an activist background or vice versa.

Academic students are people involved in the academic world or anything related to education/knowledge. They active in education forums, knowledge, accomplishments, and know where they should go. Whereas, the activists are people who are active in social activities that relate to politics, society, and environment. They believe that GPA is not everything, but their personal skills, links, relationships, insight, knowledge and leadership can be found outside the campus. The activists do not mean that they like demonstration, but they are critical and actually students responsibilities as agents of change.

Academia and activism are simply different things. Activists spend the time for promoting social change, so they have experience and knowledge in wider community. Therefore, they must be smart to split time in order their activities do not interfere their learning. However, most of the activists more concern with their organization than education. While the academic students more concern with education, which through knowledge they can go into the community with the knowledge gained during the study. They think that education is more important, and they spend their spare time to study or research, without having to busy thinking about activities or programs must be run as activists.

Based on the above description, both activists and academics are not very serious problem for every student. Since both are mutually supporting on the science and the advantages of each. Therefore, activists can exchange experiences with academics and vice versa, because students have the same role as agent of social control for the community.