Knowledge Is Power

Though I wasn’t among the brightest students in my secondary years, what made me inspired today to be who I am is the motto from the college where I used to go less than a decade ago, written by the late Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III (father to His Royal Highness Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah). The words were pretty bold and clear; “Knowledge Is Power!”

Every time I walked down the flight of stairs through the main reception of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College, I tend to glance at the late majesty’s portrait with those words engraved on a plaque below the frame. At that time, I took it literally for granted, not having the sense of knowledge of how those words could empower me to apply the knowledge of the world and incorporate it for my future success and a more meaningful life.

After leaving the college to pursue experience in the working field, I thought that I had forgotten that message, as I was too pre-occupied to make ends meet. One night, I was browsing through some old books on my shelf in my room. I was delighted to have found several old college yearbooks of SOAS College from the years 1997 up until 1999. As I opened the cover page, there it was, the mighty words of the late Sultan written in big italic fonts; “Knowledge Is Power!”

From that point on I realized how it all finally made sense to me. Glancing through the pages of the old days, I couldn’t help but regret the times I have wasted throughout my early days, not applying those words for great use. “I could’ve been the best,” I thought in my head. “I could’ve done better.”

These turn of events had encouraged me to take up studying once again, and by doing so, I’m giving myself another chance. Back in the days in SOAS College, I was too playful, lazy even. Now I know that time is of the essence, and that by obtaining more knowledge I’ll be able to change my course of life for a better future prospect. Whenever I meet up with a few teenagers who have just somehow completed their O levels and decided to quit studying and seek for a job, I always encourage them to continue studying as far as they could go. And, of course, I’d share that wisdom which the late Sultan had passed to the Bruneian students for generations, “Knowledge is Power!”

Indeed, Knowledge is Power. With knowledge, you possess great power, be it the power to lead and influence, the power of gaining wealth and happiness, the power of greater wisdom and faith, etc. The more knowledge you obtain throughout your life, the more powerful you can be in the future. The more you learn, the more you know. The higher your education, the higher your career opportunities could be. The harder you work the more experience you’ll get. Knowing more is the greatest asset a man could have in his lifetime. It’s priceless.

Never underestimate the power of knowledge. Don’t stop learning, for knowledge dictates where you’ll be in the future.