VP ADVISES STUDENTS NOT TO PURSUE POSITIONS BUT ACHIEVEMENTS, HONESTY

Banjarmasin, Jan 16 (ANTARA) - Vice President Boediono has called on students in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, to pursue achievements and honesty instead of positions in their careers after finishing their schooling.

"In principle, do not pursue position in your careers but achievements and honesty," the vice president said in a dialog with students and teachers of SMK 4 Banjarmasin on Saturday.

Boediono made the remark to response to a question raised by Rasidah, an SMA I Banjarmasin student who idolized the vice president and asked what strategy one should adopt in order eventually to rise to the position of minister.

The vice president advised the students attending the dialog to have a strong determination to become somebody but never to aim for a certain position.

He said if students were ambitious and only pursued their careers to gain a certain position , the would be frustrated and disappointed if they failed to fulfill their ambition.

According to the vice president, one thing the students should pursue was achievement and honesty because if they tried to chase a certain position, it would become as elusive as the sunbeam or shaft of light that a child tries to catch.

"Therefore, try to make outstanding achievements and always to be honest, namely to to be honest to society and to one's self," the vice president said, calling on the students to delve into their identity and try to expose it.

On the occasion the vice president asked the students to prepare themselves well to be national leaders because competition among nations in the globalization era was like between individuals.

In the globalization era, he said, t a nation could survive only if it continued to improve its quality and identity.

The vice president on his working visit to South Kalimantan was accompanied by National Education Minister Muhammad Nuh, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto, Bank BRI President Director Sofyan Dasyir, and South Kalimantan Governor Rudi Arifin.