Education, the most sought accomplishment and the great equalizer! Once you have it, you can face the world. No challenges seem insurmountable. It is the most cherished both by the high and low classes’society that wishes to prosper. Thousands of pesos are spent to secure what we call quality education. Several lives have been testimonies on how education has changedtheir lives and lifestyles. To mention a few are Manny Villar, Boy Abunda,JejomarBinay, Joe Taruc, and others. Looking around us, they are our neighbors, relatives’ friends and ourselves.
And what kind of education changes life? How is education a transformer? I have mentioned quality education a while ago. It is one that turns out graduates to be globally and locallycompetitive. This means that after the laborious search for knowledge and acquisition of skills, they could find their places under the sun as professionals in their own area of specialization. This is the objective of state universities and colleges; to produce highly in demand workers so these universities continue improving their programs, updating technologies and academic instructions, in researching for innovations,yes innovative technology.
But then, aside from the material gains of education, we should aspire for an education that serves as a connecting line between the rich and poor, the famous and unknown, the tough and naïve, and the master and the servant. Yes, an education that reaches out, a transformer of values, habits and attitudes that someone learns how to care for others, to the less fortunate,‘to the miserable.’
Moreover, we should seek an education which is unleashing the tie of ignorance; ignorance of our rights and freedom. We should seek an education that is transforming the minds and souls towards honesty and confidence claiming to oneself, “I can do honestly do it because I worked for it and I am skillful and knowledgeable.
Many fools use education in advantage of other’s illiteracy, grabbing the poor’s wealth, honor and pride; don’t you think we must be different and aspire for an education which set us free from the bondage of slavery of the oppressors, of the invaders and of the greed.Most of all, we should aim for education that changes our hearts to embrace humility and modesty and that we do not take advantage of our position to boast and belittle others. Remember the golden rule, “ Do unto others what you would want others do unto you.”(God loves the humble and hates the proud.)Genuine knowledge includes one’s emotional aspects; that the higher you rise, the lowly you become. This is genuine learning and it makes a big difference in our lives.
It is the genuine education acquired through honest efforts, brilliant minds andhigh spirit of faith to the God Almighty; an honest education that will sink in the heart and mind framing up internalized set of values; that would lead us into righteousnessand the valor to fight for our rights.Eventually, we will then hate fallacy, pretentionsbut seek for truth and practical exercise of this knowledge. In the process we begin reaching out for others, and use our education not only for our welfare but of others. Genuine education does not boast and make other’s inferior and feel their inadequacies but share it, lend a helping hand that others may also be educated. Genuine education is one that is not used to claim for ‘status quo’ and encourage the inferior to look up to them because they are somebody, but implicitly tell them, “I am herecan I help you”?
I am challenging you my dear students and colleagues tolean on to the genuine education. This really changes lives, and greatly transforms humans to live value-laden lives.
By: Loida B.Parulan | Senior High School Department | BNHS, Roman Superhighway, Balanga City
