What is education?

Education is important. Education is essential. The problem is, does everybody feel the same way? People of different race and culture have different opinions on the importance of education and where it can lead them to.

I remember when I was young, my parents used to tell me to study hard and get high grades. They said that nothing is more important than education. Without education and knowledge, I won't be able to survive this competitive world. As a child, I have good food, good clothes, and good environment. I have loving parents and relatives. There really is nothing to worry about, so I don't understand what my parents wanted me to do.

One day, I came across a story about two men, one a rich man with poor education and the other a poor man with knowledge. The rich man had everything he wanted in the world. He had what everything money can buy. While this poor man, he had to worry about his three meals and shelter every day. The rich man would often make fun of the poor man and say that the poor man's knowledge is useless without money. He said that he does not have a very high education, but he is rich and that's what is important. Then it occurred that a typhoon arrived in the place where they lived. Everything in there were washed away by the flood. Fortunately, both the rich and the poor man managed to survive, but the rich man's properties and wealth were all gone, nothing was left for him. The poor man also lose some of his things, but he did not lose his knowledge. With his knowledge, he could start eveything all over again.

This story taught me a very important lesson. Money can disappear anytime, but the knowledge you had will always be there. Since then, I understood why my parents wants me to study hard and get good grades. It is because they don't want me to suffer poverty due to lack of knowledge in the future. No one can be sure of what one has now will always be his. But knowledge for sure will not disappear and cannot be stolen from you even when you die.

People knew the importance of education, but not everyone of them values it. In Chinese culture, it is our tradition to study hard and aim for the best. People in China nowadays are very serious about their education. Having a collegeate education is not enough for them for they would get eliminated once their not as good as others, so they aim for masterals and PhDs. I feel that it is really hard to live in such a competitive society. Only the strong will survive. Bearing this in mind, people would strive even harder just to survive, thus pressuring their lives and making them miserable.

Maybe in other countries, people do compete, but not like in China. I have a Swedish friend whom I asked before " What are you planning to study in university?" then he said "I don't know yet. Maybe I'll work for a couple of years then decide what I'm going to study." Hearing his answer, I though "COOL! Such decisions do not always occur in high students' minds here. Maybe it's a good idea to work and experience more first before going back to the dull school life. Maybe slowing my pace would give me more time to really know what I want to do with my life. " Another friend answered me differently when I asked him the same question. He said "Since I have money, I could rest for one or two years after I graduate high school and enjoy my life before I continue my studies in university." This is another unusual answer, who would want to waste his precious time doing nothing? If I were him, I'd want to go to university immediately and finish my studies.

Here in Philippines, people who could afford the university tuition would definitely go straight to university after high school without thinking twice. It occured to me the idea of working first before continuing the studies is unusual, but it's normal in western countries. Maybe Westerners knows how to enjoy their lives more, as they tend to do what they feel like doing without worrying the effects, unlike Asians who value the future more than the present.

I envy people who could do they what they want to do without being stopped by circumstances. How I hope I could be like them, but living in a different community as them, it is hard for me to slow down my paces for if I do, other people would surpass me and I would get eliminated. I don't want to live a life of a loser. I have dreams that I want to pursue, like photography and travellling around the world, but due to circumstances and societal influences, I have no choice but to let down my dreams and continue on my studies. >.<

For those who read the post, I'm sorry that it was another long post. I wonder what would be your opinion of education. Surely, we would have a different point of view as we have different goals and dreams in life. Do you want to share your opinion with me? I'd be most willing to read it. ^_^

Dreams are sweet.

Dreams are untouchable.

Dremas are hard to achieve.

Dreams are unrealistic.

Dreams are beautiful.