How many people do you know who majored in a subject that they were passionate about in college? How many friends of yours love the job they do? Better yet, how many people do you know who consider themselves 'HAPPY'? In a society full of economic ups and downs, family turns and twists, and not to mention the routine political merry go rounds, we have become a very pragmatic culture. Our thoughts, goals, and instincts have been curved toward the route that seems least painful, convenient, and quick. Even  higher institutions now design a portion of their marketing and degree programs as tools to empower the individual to make money, maintain stability, and all in a short amount of time. I do not consider this diabolical in any sense, I encourage the student who wants to better their life and empower themselves for a more sound future. My point is more a question than a statement; are we achieving exactly what education is meant to provide? In essence what I am asking is, beyond financial empowerment, is there more that we are meant to receive from education?

Historian and author, Carter G. Woodson said that "real education means to inspire people to live more abundantly, to learn to begin with life as they find it and make it better..."  I believe Dr. Woodson's teaching categorizes education as not just information that collects in the mind of the person so they can attain more but rather a process of challenging and uplifting where a person becomes a contributor to society more than a beneficiary. Education should be a catalyst. I assert that the measure of how educated someone has become is a measure of their maturity and self-lessness. This is a stark contrast to the mentality of students I know. Being a college student myself, I am sad to admit that a large majority (not all...thank God!) are takers. Our culture sets a mentality of self-centeredness. I mean this in every sense, emotional, moral, financial, political, etc.A breed of emotional and mental hedonism.

Among the 'educated' of our country there should be the greatest sense of discontentment. Each individual should realize that with the more he or she knows the more ignorant he or she really is. A truly learned person should be a learner.The word "education" in the latin means 'to lead out.' Lead out of what exactly...? IGNORANCE. The more we learn the more illuminated our minds should be to the void we really have. The so-called educated person should crave change. There should be a sense of growth in the educated individual that carries with it a profound sense of responsibility and stewardship. I speak now not of only college education but any impartation that brings a person's consciousness to a new height from where it may have been. In that sense education can be available from a vast array of sources ranging from the university classroom to the prison cell block. 

When all is said and done, is the world a better place because your education? What have you done with what you've been given?


“The one real object of education is to leave a man in the condition of continually asking questions.” ~Bishop Creighton

"I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing."