Should I excel in the academics?

My teacher once told his experience...

One day, in a class, a lecturer distributed the latest exam marks to his students. He was very angry about them.
 "You are 'kafir'! How can you get  very bad marks for this exam?!"
Then, someone asked, "Why do you say that we are 'kafir'? There's no connection between our academic performance and our imaan. We are still Muslims!"
 "Well, you did not concentrate in your studies. You just play around, without thinking to be the best in your studies. Muslims are obliged to learn."
Another student voiced out,"but you are the one who is wrong. We did not understand what you taught."
"then why you did not meet me andbask about it?"
"some of the questions in the exam had not been taught by you."
"maybe you are the one who were absent on that class. Or maybe you were not concentrating."

From this story, I could conclude that studies is crucial. Anything begins from learning. Since we were born, we learned how to crawl, to sit, to stand, to walk, to run and then to talk and so on. Until now, we are still learning, including the elders. Whether it is formal education or informal, it is still important in our life. We do not want to be a stupid person right?

Allah praises the ones who are bright. But who are they?

"Surely, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are signs for the people of wisdom, [190] who remember Allah standing and sitting, and (lying) on their sides, and ponder on the creation of the heavens and the earth (saying:) "Our Lord, You have not created all this in vain. We proclaim Your purity. So, save us from the punishment of Fire. [191]

(surah Ali Imran)

According to this ayat, there are TWO characters of ulul albab, the people of wisdom:

1) remember Allah standing and sitting

2) ponder the creations of the heavens and the earth

So, both Islam and studies are important. We must take both of them as our priority. Learnings can help us to know more about the creations of Allah. For example, when we know that there is a river underwater, as stated in the Quran, our imaan will be stronger as it proves the truth of Quran. And such discoveries even made the researchers to revert to Islam! How wonderful it is!

Thus, excel in your academics and contribute to  Islam!