As citizens of the United States of America, we are lucky enough to have many freedoms, one of which is education. Not only that, but our freedom allows us to perpetually learn. Because we are not hindered by the challenges many other societies face, we are constantly experiencing, constantly learning. This is something we sometimes take for granted.
More often than not, citizens across the world are denied basic rights -- socially, economically and politically -- that allow them to live as we do. As college students, we sometimes feel as though the pressure of our future rides on our shoulders and as though our destiny relies on each decision we make these four years. And I would be lying if I said a lot of what we do here does not determine where we go in life, because in many ways it does. But as college students, our vision of the world seems too narrow.
We become preoccupied with the endless work, frequent exams, and weekend plans. We go to school, eat, attend meetings, do homework, eat, study -- it’s all a routine. Our professors return the tests and suddenly the world crumbles because we got a C, or maybe worse. And for the rest of the day we’re in this state of depression as if we are failures -- slowly watching our futures as doctors, businessmen and businesswomen, or lawyers slip away. All the while, children across the world are being denied the simple freedom of education.
Malala Yousafazi, a Pakistani activist, was nearly assassinated by the Taliban because she promoted human rights and education for women. According to UNICEF, 121 million children worldwide do not attend school -- 9 million more girls than boys. An estimated 65 million girls are denied the right of basic education, increasing the likelihood they will live in poverty or die young. Despite remarkable progress towards achieving gender equality in education, gender disparities remain in many countries. There are many obstacles that prevent girls from getting an education, such as poverty, geographical isolation, early marriage, cultural values and gender-based violence. Women’s education is fundamental to a country’s social and economic wellbeing as it promotes health and welfare for the next generation.
In South Sudan, the world’s newest country, less than 2 percent of the population has completed a primary school education. After South Sudan seceded from the North in 2011, the country has struggled to build an education system for its young and to educate the millions of adults who were unable to attend school during the war. Not only are there not enough school facilities, but also the quality of instruction is poor and the needs of disabled children are not being met. Lack of educational materials is another challenge.
Have you ever sat in a politics class and completely disagreed with something that was being said? Or walked down the street, overheard a protest, and generated an opinion on the topic? Education gives us a knowledge of the world around us and alters it into something better. It develops in us a perspective of looking at life. It helps us build opinions and points of view.
Have you ever been late to an interview and completely ruined your chance at getting that job? Or have you ever driven your car on “E” until you were stopped on the side of the highway out of gas? We’re all learning, every day. It’s not just about the lessons in textbooks -- it’s about the lessons in life, which are attainable with the many freedoms our life in America has blessed us with.
Education is not a matter of knowing how to write, read or count, but is a matter of better educating children to protect them from many things, such as diseases and health risks. It’s teaching them about the world so they can become globally conscience citizens and contribute to the world on positive social, economic and political levels. Education encourages accountability, good governance, and stability, and helps fight against terrorism and corruption. Education helps people work better and can create opportunities for sustainable and viable economic growth now and in the future. It’s less about the textbooks and more about teaching children peace. If you are educated you will be able to know what peace is and you will understand the importance of reconciliation, forgiveness and coming together to solve problems. Education is the most important tool we have, and it’s critical, in many ways, that we use it, and that we don’t take it for granted.
So while we continue our journey throughout college, learning about the world and ourselves both in the classroom and on the streets, it’s important to take into consideration the educational conditions across the world in comparison to our own. Yes, we might fail one or two exams, but instead of narrowly dwelling on a poor grade, try to focus on the simple asset you have been blessed with that many are deprived of: education.
