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How PREMIUM TIMES Uses Discipline, Punishment in Its Editorial on Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway

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Political and non-political circles have been debating the importance of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project being carried out by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government for a number of days now. President Tinubu has been scrutinised in the media and in public courts, much like the previous administrations that proposed and carried out various projects. Different linguistic devices, socio-political contexts, and economic indicators have been used to analyse the project from various angles. 

In this piece, our analyst examines the editorial on the road project from one of the nation’s most renowned and critical newspapers. Premium Times is renowned for its in-depth investigative reporting and coverage that questions the deeds and inactions of public office holders. The newspaper is renowned for covering issues related to the private sector. The editorial was titled “a coastal highway of misplace priority and due process abuse” by the newspaper. 

Our analyst analyses the newspaper’s use of punishment and discipline as a metaphor to highlight inequalities in the planning and current construction of the road project. In the process, a few metaphors employed by the newspaper were examined through the analytical lenses of Michael Foucault’s ideas on punishment and discipline.

Discipline emphasises how to help someone make a better decision the next time, whereas punishment literally concentrates on making someone suffer for disobeying the rules. The idea put out by Foucault is that one cannot exist without the other. The knowledge that defines and categorises people is the foundation for the power and methods of punishment, and this knowledge is derived from specific power and dominance dynamics.

In this regard, our analyst observes that, as highlighted in the editorial, the Nigerian government is exploiting the power granted to it by the Constitution, as well as facts that individuals do not understand, to dominate conversations over the road project. Instead of hiding beneath them, the newspaper’s editorial wants the government to act in conformity with the country’s current socioeconomic realities, particularly those affecting disadvantaged individuals.

The economy is bleeding profusely, there must be better areas to plough our little resources into

This metaphor conveys a sense of mismanagement and inefficiency within the economic structure, implying that resources are being squandered or poorly distributed. According to Foucault’s paradigm, this might indicate a lack of discipline in economic governance and resource management, in which those in authority fail to efficiently regulate and use resources for the benefit of society.

His (Minister of Works) zealousness in its implementation brooks no dissent, and sometimes it gets spiteful

Here, the metaphor represents an authoritarian style to execution in which disagreement is not permitted. In Foucault’s framework, this indicates a sort of disciplinary authority in which individuals are controlled and coerced into conforming to the wishes of those in power.

The political ecosystem is already astir on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, with the circumstances surrounding its award

This metaphor emphasises the political difficulties and disputes that surround the project’s execution. According to Foucault’s view, this shows the prevalence of power struggles and surveillance mechanisms in the political landscape, where many actors compete for control and influence over decision-making processes.

Adherence to due process has been raised by some critics, causing waffling in official quarters

The metaphor implies hesitation or indecision among official authority in response to accusations of procedural integrity. From Foucault’s perspective, this might imply a disruption in the regular functioning of disciplinary processes, as challenges to established procedures generate ambiguity and undermine authority.

How the project will be financed is still mired in obfuscation

This metaphor suggests the government’s intentional attempt to obfuscate or mislead the public about the project’s financial mechanisms. In Foucault’s paradigm, this is a type of disciplinary authority through informational control in which transparency and accountability are lacking, allowing those in power to keep control and evade examination.

It beats our imagination that the federal government will undertake the construction of these projects at a time that the country’s finances are heading south; and in the face of the dilapidated state of thousands of kilometres of existing highways, which are death-traps

This metaphor expresses skepticism and criticism of the government’s infrastructure development decisions in the face of budgetary constraints and current infrastructure inadequacies. In Foucault’s perspective, this emphasises the use of power by governmental officials in prioritising particular projects above others, despite popular objections and resistance. 

The Tinubu regime should be shrewd in deploying public resources

This metaphor emphasises the need for astuteness and strategic decision-making in government resource distribution. From a Foucauldian standpoint, it emphasises the need of disciplinary procedures in managing and regulating the use of state resources, with an emphasis on efficiency and effectiveness in attaining government goals.

These funds should not be frittered away on a white elephant and projects that will not positively impact the economy in the short and medium terms

The metaphor advises against wasting money on projects that may not produce major economic advantages. Foucault would take this as a plea for disciplined governance and rational resource allocation, in which government activities are scrutinised and assessed based on their perceived usefulness and societal impact.

Our teaching hospitals are relics of the last century

This metaphor describes teaching hospitals as obsolete and in need of upgrading. In the context of Foucault’s paradigm, it emphasises the significance of institutional structures in maintaining disciplinary norms and practices, where established systems and facilities may resist change and adaptation to changing society requirements.

Our seaports cannot compete with the best in Africa, which before now led to the loss of $7 billion annually to Cotonou and Ghana seaports, while the international airports are a laughing stock in comparison with their peers offshore.

This metaphor depicts Nigeria’s seaports and international airports as inferior and less competitive than those in adjacent nations. Here, the power dynamics and disciplinary procedures that shape the country’s infrastructure development and foreign trade ties are described as mirroring bigger concerns of governance and regulation.

Nigeria to reintroduce telecom tax to meet $750m World Bank loan requirement

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In a bid to secure a new $750 million loan from the World Bank, Nigeria is reportedly contemplating reinstating previously suspended fiscal measures, including telecom taxes and excise duties. The revelation comes from the Stakeholder Engagement Plan for Nigeria’s Accelerating Resource Mobilization Reforms (ARMOR) program, dated March 2024, which outlines measures aimed at bolstering the country’s financial position.

According to documents obtained by Nairametrics, the proposed tax reforms under the ARMOR program could see the reintroduction of excise duties on telecommunications services, alongside an Electronic Money Transfer (EMT) levy on transactions processed through Nigerian banks, among other taxes.

The suspension of the 5% excise duty on telecommunications and the Import Tax Adjustment levy on certain vehicles, ordered by President Bola Tinubu in July 2023, may now be lifted to meet the targets outlined in the ARMOR program, pending World Bank approval.

Negotiations between the Federal Government and the World Bank are reportedly underway, with the overarching objective of enhancing Nigeria’s capacity to manage and mobilize domestic resources effectively. This includes measures aimed at improving tax and customs compliance while safeguarding oil revenues.

“Domestic Revenue Mobilisation drive in the government ARMOR program seeks to increase revenue on some targeted industries and sectors of the economy,’’ the document partly said.

The proposed tax reforms are poised to have far-reaching implications across various economic sectors, with stakeholders ranging from manufacturers to service providers and the general tax-paying public set to be affected. Manufacturers of goods such as alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are among those likely to feel the impact of the proposed excise duties.

Key industry groups, including the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), the Committee of Bankers, and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), are actively engaged in discussions concerning the potential reforms. These discussions aim to ensure the buy-in of stakeholders and facilitate the successful implementation of the proposed measures.

While these measures hold the promise of augmenting government revenues, the document emphasized the need for caution to ensure that vulnerable segments of society are not disproportionately burdened by these changes.

The engagement plan emphasizes the significance of leveraging existing regulatory mechanisms within key public sector agencies to facilitate the effective implementation of the proposed revenue measures.

“Services that will be subjected to the newly introduced excises are regulated by key public sector agencies. The introduction of the new revenue measures will require the application of existing regulatory mechanisms available within these institutions,’’ the document reads.

 Institutions such as the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are identified as pivotal players in this regard, tasked with overseeing the regulatory framework governing the affected sectors.

Moreover, the ARMOR program acknowledges the intersecting domains of health and environmental protection, recognizing the pivotal role of government institutions such as the Federal Ministry of Environment, the National Environmental Standards Regulatory and Enforcement Agency (NESREA), and the Federal Ministry of Health in shaping policy frameworks aligned with public interest objectives.

At its core, the ARMOR program forms part of a broader governmental initiative spanning from 2024 to 2028, aimed at ushering in comprehensive reforms in tax and excise regimes, enhancing administrative capabilities in tax and customs administration, and fostering transparency in oil and gas revenue management. 

With the World Bank’s substantial contribution of $750 million, complemented by the Federal Government’s commitment of $1.17 billion through annual budgetary allocations, the program’s ambition is expected to be matched by its scale.

Technical assistance constitutes a pivotal component of the ARMOR program, with specific allocations earmarked for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). The allocation of $5 million each aims to fortify the capacity of these agencies to implement the proposed reforms effectively, encompassing initiatives such as data sharing, risk-based audits, and compliance processes.

Furthermore, the allocation of $10 million for project management, tax policy capacity-building, and other expenses underscores the comprehensive approach adopted by the ARMOR program. This holistic strategy, buttressed by substantial investments in capacity building and program management, underscores Nigeria’s commitment to achieving fiscal sustainability. 

However, it is coming at a time when Nigerians are lamenting over overwhelming economic hardship, underpinned by skyrocketing inflation and unemployment. Additional tax burden is the least they’re expecting from the government still struggling to address any of their numerous challenges, after one year in office.

The plan document reads in full:

“Domestic Revenue Mobilization drive in the government ARMOR program seeks to increase revenue on some targeted industries and sectors of the economy. Specific groups and agencies within affected sectors include 

“1. Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria: The introduction of excises on telecom services requires that all telcos are mobilized to fully participate in the collection of such revenue. 

“2. Committee of Bankers: Introduction of EMT levy on electronic money transfers through the Nigerian Banking System would need the buy-in of all banking institutions 

“3. Manufacturer’s Association of Nigeria: Manufacturers of tobacco products, sugar-sweetened beverages(SSBs), and alcoholic beverages who would be required to collect excises on their products are critical stakeholders for the introduction of the new excise regime. They are currently organized into various sectoral groups under the Manufacturer’s Association of Nigeria (MAN). Producers of alcoholic beverages organized under the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria also need to key into the reforms 

“4. Importers: Strategic partners involved in the importation of different items into the country will be mobilized to participate in the ARMOR program. A key stakeholder group is the Association of Nigeria Customs Agents (ANCLA). 

“5. Vehicle Importers and Manufacturers: Stakeholders in the automobile trade industry must be engaged on reforms involving the introduction of green taxes on high GHG emission vehicles. Local manufacturing and assembly of vehicles is growing through a phase of growth in Nigeria. The demand for vehicles is mostly met through importation by vehicle importers under the aegis of Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON).” 

It also added policy-making agencies: The concerned institutions include 

“1. Nigerian Communication Commission 

“2. Central Bank of Nigeria. 

“There are also agencies with the mandate for making policies on some of the issues covered in the ARMOR program with respect to policy framework on matters of public interest in Health and Environmental Protection. The government institutions relevant to ARMOR in this regard are. 

“1. Federal Ministry of Environment 

“2. National Environmental Standards Regulatory and Enforcement Agency (NESREA) 

“3. Federal Ministry of Health” 

“The PforR Program scope includes a subset of actions from the government program to be conducted during 2024 to 2028 at the federal level. The alignment ensures that the World Bank’s intervention supports and enhances the sustainability and impact of the government initiative during the main period of implementation with a focus on reforms of tax and excise regimes, tax and customs administrative improvements, and enhanced transparency of oil and gas revenues remitted by NNPCL. 

“The government program is funded from annual budget allocations of $1.17 billion to FMF, FIRS and NCS. The PforR with results based financing of $730 million, and $20 million investment financing, is 62 percent of the program budget” 

Dogecoin (DOGE) Vs. ETFSwap (ETFS) Vs. Shiba Inu (SHIB), Who Will Reach $2 First?

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As we prepare for a bull market post-halving, investors are hunting for sustainable crypto projects to diversify into amidst several in the market. With old guns Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB) experiencing a somewhat fluctuating period, a newbie, ETFSwap (ETFS), is tipped to excel this year. So, in this article, we will explore their potential and ascertain which of these three cryptos will hit the $2 mark first. Let’s dive in!

Price Prediction: Will Dogecoin Reach $2 By End Of 2024?

Dogecoin’s (DOGE) trajectory has remained uncertain over the last month, with the meme coin experiencing a relatively low price trend. The most popular meme coin saw a massive decline in its daily trading volume in the previous week and a 28.20% decline over the last 24 hours.

According to recent data on CoinGecko, Dogecoin’s (DOGE) current price is $0.1325, reflecting a 3.5% increase in the last 24 hours. However, the meme coin’s value indicates an 81.8% decline compared with its all-time high in May 2021, when it sold for $0.7316. The dog-themed coin is currently ranked No. 9 in the crypto world, with a market cap of $19,130,989,382.

With Dogecoin’s (DOGE) low market activity and high volatility of meme coins, it doesn’t look so bright for the Dogecoin (DOGE) community. It can only dream of hitting $2 by the end of 2024. However, with Elon Musk’s constant teasing of the crypto community using the renowned meme coin, all hope might not be lost.

Will The Shibarium Hard Fork Impact Shiba Inu (SHIB) Price?

Decentralized digital currency Shiba Inu’s (SHIB) Shibarium layer-2 network recently completed its hard fork. The network announced the fork in a post on its X (formerly Twitter) account, suggesting that it will enable “blazing transactions” and “predictable gas fees.”

The hard fork is believed to attract investors to Shiba Inu (SHIB), as upgrades have been made to the well-known meme coin platform. This seems to be the case as a look at the Shiba Inu (SHIB) price trend indicates that the meme coin has experienced a 4.1% value increase in the last 24 hours, and it currently sells for $0.00002298.

Despite the recent increase, the Shiba Inu (SHIB) price is still down 73.3% from its all-time high in October 2021. However, the Shiba Inu (SHIB) community is optimistic that the hard fork will drive investors that will push for a bull period into the platform.

Even if this happens, $2 looks like a very high mountain to climb for the meme coin, especially factoring in the fact that its market supply is in the trillions. Coupled with the emergence of a promising alternative like ETFSwap (ETFS), Shiba Inu (SHIB) investors have a slim chance of seeing the $2 price tag.

Price Prediction: ETFSwap (ETFS) Set To Hit $2 After Major Listing

The new decentralized finance (DeFi) platform ETFSwap (ETFS) is taking the crypto world by storm after influential analysts and experts backed it to go beyond the $2 mark immediately after it gets listed on major exchanges.

ETFSwap (ETFS) is on a mission to transform the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector by enabling the trading of cryptocurrencies and tokenized exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in its ecosystem. This way, it bridges the gap between the two sectors – traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi).

Users and customers can trade and invest in a broad option of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and can also swap their cryptocurrencies to ETFs and vice versa. They also enjoy a wide range of benefits, including market-making services, perpetual futures services, 10x leverage services, etc. The forefront Ethereum-based DeFi platform also optimizes the advantages of blockchain technology to provide accurate and transparent data for its users.

Amid the uncertainty rocking the market, ETFSwap (ETFS) has stood firm as a viable option, with its presale amassing a large number of investors. Currently, in its Stage 1 presale, ETFSwap (ETFS) has sold out over 50 million tokens and is still selling fast at a price of $0.00854.

When the Stage 1 presale ends in a few days, Stage 2 will commence and sell for 2x the current price, guaranteeing a 100% gain for investors in this round. This suggests that Stage 1 investors will be seeing profit right out of the gate. Not only that but the uptrend is projected to continue even after the presale stages.

For more information about the ETFS Presale:

Visit ETFSwap Presale

Join The ETFSwap Community

How to Run a Winning Startup? Essentials to Know

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Every success begins with an idea, and when an ambitious founder has something in mind, they can harness their strong emotional boost and powerful motivation to succeed. But to truly run a winning startup and avoid common pitfalls, it’s crucial to have a strategic plan, understand your capabilities, and be prepared to react to possible changes. Remember, your idea has the potential to become a thriving business.

Rest assured, we’re not here to discourage your idea. On the contrary, we’re here to provide comprehensive support in planning your steps, gaining resources, and taking your first steps on the road to success. In this article, we’ll guide you through the core points that are worth your attention when building a startup.

Develop an Idea

When we say about the idea we mention not only the topic you want to work it. I mean the full concept of your project with proper explanation, value for users, and the approximate income you’ll get from your start-up. If you decide to create a cooking app, you may think of the following:

  • Who is your target audience (chefs only, both chefs and amateurs, amateurs only)?
  • What options does the app have (save recipes, read useful tips, create and add your own recipes to the catalog, etc.)
  • Will it have paid services? If yes, how much will they cost?

Analyze the market and identify your competitors. Check their apps, analyze available options, and take notes. You can improve some of their ideas and create something much better. Pay attention to reviews. If people say they don’t have something in the used apps, you can add the missing options or tools to your project. Focus all your energy on improving the customer experience and solving the major problems. When people see a solution to their major problems, they feel more confident and ready to move on.

Your target audience will be waiting for valuable content, and it’s up to you to provide it. They actually don’t care how cool and unique your startup is. They want to see great content or receive exceptional services that will make their life easier. Also, your product should be quick to adapt, so clients won’t need much time to understand how it works. If you create an app, think of making a short guide and adding tips for every option. Later, when the program will receive updates with new options and features, consider adding a short description for every update. When people enter the application, they quickly understand what exactly was changed and how it impacts the overall performance.

Think of the Adequate Budget

To make your dreams come true, you have to invest. Do it wisely and calculate how much will you spend on promotion, design, SEO and copywriting, software development, and other operations. Whether you craft an essay writing service or a cooking app, everything should be clarified. Understand that once you hire specialists with the cheapest rate on the market, your app won’t blow the market. So, the budget is one of the first things you should think of when developing a startup idea.

If you can monetize your product and generate income, it makes sense to increase your budget. For example, you can improve the design or extend your promotion campaign. You can use other platforms to effectively promote your startup, collaborate with influencers, or cooperate with businesses to reach a wider audience.

Develop Your Business Plan

In your business plan, you should include your marketing strategy (the methods and approaches you use to develop and promote your startup), your value proposition, operational information, and financial projections. With such a plan, you will always be organized and stick to your main goal. You will slowly move from one point to another, fulfilling your goals and seeing how your startup comes alive.

Develop a Strong Brand

The purchase essay startup is not only about ideas, functions, and income. It’s about a strong brand that becomes memorable and draws attention the moment people see it. There are some core things that make your brand strong and noticeable:

  • Unique design. People see something unusual and something that gives them more room for creativity, and they understand: that this is something they’ve been waiting for.
  • You positioned yourself as a game changer and you want to bring something new to your industry. Show it by offering a slogan that will draw attention and give people confidence in your creation. Whether it’s an app, a training program, or a new service that makes people’s lives easier, your goal is to show that this is important.

Don’t focus on copying the competitors’ experience. Use it for inspiration and develop a better product with better optimization, a brighter design, more affordability (or even free), and no issues when using it. Remember: you need to surpass your competitors. Once you do so, their audience will select your product, not theirs.

Monitor the Performance

Once you release your startup, it’s important to test it and see how people react to it. If your target audience is satisfied and gives positive feedback, it’s great. Still, if the overall impression is mixed, you have to go and see what’s wrong. Maybe the optimization is bad, or the design is poor at some point. Anyway, you should react to the feedback and do everything to get rid of the issues. If your startup is about services, watch what people say about the quality, the delivery time of the service, and the final result.

Final Thoughts

Many people don’t want to take responsibility and run the startup themselves because it’s too risky and requires solid investments. Moreover, it may not pay off in the end, so individuals wait for better chances. Still, once you have an idea and want to realize it, don’t hold back. Stay focused, stick to the plan, and write down everything you do on your way. Later, it will help you during the error analysis. You will understand what was wrong, what could be done better, and what was made the best.

Ways to Balance Work and Life While Studying an Online MBA

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Balancing work and life while studying is one of the biggest challenges, especially when you have kids to take care of and other personal commitments. While it’s not impossible to work and attend to your other obligations, a strategic plan needs to be put in place to ensure one side of your life doesn’t slow down. In this article, we give tips to help you balance work and life while studying for an online MBA.

Create a Schedule

Creating a timetable can be extremely helpful when balancing work and life while studying while taking an online MBA. Set a plan of action that works for you. Don’t copy your colleague’s schedule, as you may have different obligations and priorities. Create a schedule based on your commitments, circumstances, and preferences. Don’t just create a timetable and just put it on your desk. Following it is vital. Why? As your studies progress, you may have more materials to work on. So, getting to follow your schedule early enough will help you stay organized.

A schedule helps you decide how much time you can devote to studying and what time to do your personal tasks. You decide which tasks require much attention and which ones aren’t tedious. Thus, it ensures that all your assignments are done on time, and you won’t get stranded looking for academic helpers from sites like payforessay.net when the deadline is near. Scheduling also eliminates uncertainties and helps you build healthy working habits. You can reduce stress and increase productivity. Create a weekday or monthly schedule that shows your work and life commitments.

Set Realistic Goals and Priorities

Setting a realistic goal is a vital aspect to look into if you want to balance your work and life responsibilities. Think of what you want to learn and achieve and whether you have enough time to dedicate to all those obligations. Don’t overwhelm yourself with so much, yet you don’t have time to attend to some of the responsibilities. Don’t feel the pressure to stand out and set unrealistic goals, as this will cost you in the end. It might make you feel like a failure who can’t manage their goals.

Setting realistic aims gives you direction, motivation, and focus. It helps you focus your efforts on what is truly important and achievable. You also get to experience a sense of accomplishment and motivation, which leads to greater productivity and success. You avoid overwhelming yourself as you only focus on one task at a time. Realistic goals also provide a sense of ownership, purpose, and pride. You also feel fulfilled and satisfied in life. Here are ways to help you set realistic goals:

  • Decide what kind of goals you are setting.
  • Write the goals down and follow the SMART technique.
  • Track your goals.
  • Have an action plan.

Create a Study Routine

Planning is important in all areas, including when studying. If you don’t plan, you might focus less on crucial tasks like doing an assignment. When you finally sit down to do it, you might realize it requires more research, which you were not prepared for. You might be forced to buy an essay online to turn in a good paper.

Having a study timetable helps you focus and achieve your goals and gives you a proper method for studying for your exams. Sometimes, you feel overwhelmed and see that you don’t have adequate time to cover all the study materials. In this case, a study routine can help you achieve your objectives and create a fruitful environment for your studies.

A study routine also keeps you alert as you are aware of what to learn and at what time. You can split your study time into bits, taking breaks and attending to other responsibilities in between. A study routine also helps you prioritize your studies and avoid procrastination. A routine gives you enough time to rest and reduces your studying stress. You’ll also build a sense of accountability as your day will be well organized.

Build a Network

Isolation increases your stress and makes the work-life balance seem more difficult. Thus, having a group of people who can provide you with support while taking the course for the MBA program is important. Be it your co-workers, friends, or family, inform them you are pursuing a degree so that they understand you and not put too much pressure on you. They will be supportive; for instance, during the house chores, you may be helped by your family, and at the workplace, your employer can set a flexible schedule for you. Besides, discussing with them will help you to avoid feeling guilty when you are spending most of your time on your studies.

Networking is a make-or-break factor for an online MBA student who has to balance work, life, and studying. Networking allows you to reach success in your career by connecting you with people in the same field. You also get some important insights and points of view and are able to grow your professional network. Also, networking provides mentorship, job opportunities, and others that help in walking through the career goals and success.

Use Technology

Using technology enables efficient time management and organization. An MBA program requires a lot of time commitment and attention to detail. Technology can help you track your assignments, deadlines, and schedules. Online MBA programs often use digital platforms that offer a wide range of multimedia resources, including webinars, videos, and virtual classrooms. This technology will help you learn and retain information effectively. Furthermore, productivity tools can help you beat deadlines and stick to your timetable. For instance, you can use Notion and Evernote to have proper organization of your notes.

Takeaway

Balancing a job with family and studies is a tough thing and may appear to be a pipe dream. Having too many obligations can be daunting, no matter where you are, how old you are, or what course you are studying. Through the workable approaches aimed at your success, you can balance your work and studies without giving up too much in your personal life. But do not forget about yourself. Rest to preserve your mental and physical health. Most importantly, be disciplined and adhere to your schedule.