Americans take education for granted.
With so many more Americans pursuing college than ever before, it is easy to lose sight of the advantage that we have.
Knowledge is the key to power – and having knowledge is emotionally and mentally fulfilling. Of all the gifts a person has, knowledge is one of the best.
In the early 1900s, there once was a man, Ben, who had such a desire to go to college, but his family was extremely poor – with quite a few other siblings in the household.
However, he was so eager to pursue a higher education; he went on to college anyway in the hope of “bettering” himself.
The other kids in college were all wealthy and when they saw Ben – with his shoes duck taped together and raggedy, tornold clothes, they tormented him with jeers and harsh laughter.
This man, Ben, is what my great uncle had to go throughto receive a higher education.
His yearning to pursueknowledge was shattered by cruel, richcollegekids who didn’t understand his craving, his passion for knowledge.
They took their education for granted because theycouldn’t relate to hisdeterminationto learn.
But, are those cruel, selfish kids so different from us?
Maybe we don’t like all those classes every week – and that’s fine. We don’t have to enjoy them all. However, there are many classes that I look forward to going to, look forward to listening to the professor and absorbing new information.
I’m grateful I’m able to gain the college education Ben wasn’t as fortunate to have thrown at his feet.
I’m lucky for having such superior knowledge offeredwithsuchaccessibility.
“A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.”
-Theodore Roosevelt

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