Growing up with strict parents who were like a broken tape recorder was something I would always remember up to this day. They never get tired of saying that education is the key to success and that if we fail to finish our schooling, we will starve and become homeless. Different people have different perspectives on how they see or treat education. But, from my point of view, the true meaning of education lies in something else. There are a number of scholars who argue that traditional education is not the only way to be successful. For instance, YouTube personality, Suli Breaks in his video ‘Why I Hate School but Love Education’ argues that some billionaires in today’s generation did not even experience getting a degree. He says: “Neither of them being successful, ever graduated from a higher learning institution”. This inspired and led me into this kind of mindset where I should not let my grades define my success. I agree with the assertions of Breaks that finishing education is not the cause of the outcome of whom we become in the end. Because for me, there is no end in education, there is no end in learning. We discover new things in our everyday lives. I believe that education is about the time and effort we exert into one thing to become better at it.
Making an effort in achieving something you want is education itself. You will truly gain knowledge when you offer your time wholeheartedly. One specific example would be in school. Examinations are very common in any educational institution. There are times when we will succeed and there will be times when we will not be able to meet the standards of our instructors. Whenever I take an exam, I always tell myself to do my best to learn the lessons I am struggling with. To be honest, I get more satisfaction knowing that I worked hard along the process and the results are just a bonus. I used to think that an individual is only considered ‘smart’ if he or she has a grade of 90 or above when it comes to academics. I do not actually consider myself a smart person. But as I continue to grow and discover things along the way, I started to look at school as a place of trial and error, an institution of understanding. In the end, once we step out of our universities, the things we do not learn in schools, like being street smart, will play a huge part in how our lives shall turn out. I learned that there are different types of smart. Street smart, tech smart, academics smart, and the list goes on. The same thing applies to education.
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Education can occur in a formal or informal setting and any experience affects the way how an individual thinks or feels considering something to be educational. Education can be acquired in so many ways. Educating oneself can be done anywhere, not only within the four corners of a classroom or the larger macrocosm of the institution. In an interview with my former class adviser, Ms. Malyn Dacir from the Philippines, she mentions that education “is a tool to better one’s life so he can enjoy it to the fullest”. One way of acquiring education is by enrolling in an educational institution. Going to school gives us a huge opportunity to acquire knowledge. Some of the things that we learn in school can also be used and applied to the real world. We have no idea that we can become educated even in the simplest ways as well. One example that we may not notice in our everyday lives, we educate ourselves with cooking. If we do not know how to make a dish, either a viand, food that accompanies rice, a dessert, or a snack, we search for instructions on how to create it. We offer our time in learning and mastering so that we will be able to produce our final product confidently. Education is about applying the knowledge that begins within ourselves, supported by the school, and finally improving with the help of society. In my opinion, just being curious when it comes to trying new things is an example of living your life to the fullest. There will be no regrets because of your eagerness to experience new things.
Education typically takes place under the supervision and guidance of teachers or educators, however, learners may also educate themselves. There are numerous things in this world that you can achieve without the requirement of formal education, or what we commonly call ‘college’. Commuting using public transportation can be learned by you. We educate ourselves and make ourselves familiar with something that we might need to know in the future. I mean, if my car is unavailable and I need to go to the hospital for an emergency, I would still consider myself lucky for learning how to use the bus. Sometimes, educating oneself occurs naturally or on the spot. Imitation is another way of learning that I consider natural. This is usually common with children at an early age who are experiencing curiosity. It is not limited to children, we develop our curiosity as we age. Until now, there are certain things that we are curious about. There are situations we face that we have not encountered taking action on. We learn how to deal with different types of situations using the method of trial and error. In other words, if we make a mistake, we would not repeat it, and we would take a whole different action towards it until we get the satisfaction of being educated.
In conclusion, being educated begins at home, supported by formal schooling, and improving it through experiences we encounter in the community. Every learning process comes with the method of trial and error. What we forgot to do, or what we did wrong, can be corrected in the future. Every decision and step we take is a part of the process. With an amount of effort to right our wrongs, we can consider that as one of the many ways we can truly better ourselves. Education is like a tree with numerous branches. Every other human being has his own way of being educated, not just by attending an educational institution. In a sense, an educated man should be differentiated from a man with a degree. Both have plenty of knowledge in their respective fields that could have been or not have been the result of education in an institution. Yes, education ensures that you have a better shot of getting employed or being able to practice your chosen field. But I firmly believe that education is not the only key to being successful or happy. Because for me, education is all about time and effort in mastering our desired ambition.
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