Peter sat hunched over his desk, tapping his pen restlessly as he glanced at the textbook in front of him. The pages were pristine, filled with carefully drawn diagrams of machines and vibrant images, but nowhere could he find the equations or deep explanations he craved. Around him, students scribbled notes obediently, their eyes glazed with boredom.
Professor Ivanov, a tall man with sharp features and an unwavering gaze, addressed the group of instructors. "We must ensure the students do not stray beyond the curriculum. The books are their only guide. Knowledge from other fields is forbidden—this is the foundation of our institution." The teachers nodded in agreement, reinforcing their silent pact to keep learning tightly controlled.
Peter leaned in, furiously typing as he compared online articles, open-source lectures, and thick tomes borrowed in secret from the library. His notebooks overflowed with scribbled equations and complex diagrams. "Why must I restrict myself to these shallow tasks when the world of knowledge is so vast?" he muttered, flipping to a page on quantum mechanics far beyond his coursework.
Peter raised his hand hesitantly. "Professor, can we discuss the underlying equations that make this turbine work?" The teacher, Professor Ivanov, frowned and shook his head. "It is not necessary for your understanding. Please stick to what is in the textbook. Further inquiry is not permitted." Peter lowered his hand, frustration burning in his chest.
Peter gazed up at the statue, recalling stories of pioneers who dared to break the rules. "If they could push beyond, so can I," he whispered to himself. Determined, he resolved to seek knowledge wherever he could find it, regardless of the university’s stifling rules.
Peter scribbled new ideas in the margins of his notebook, a smile spreading across his lips. The world outside the rigid university walls was vast and waiting, and he knew that real learning began when he questioned, explored, and defied. No rule or teacher could keep him from chasing the knowledge he truly desired.
