Importance of Education - Essay Example

Importance of Education al Affiliation Education is the key to success. This ment has stood and passed the test of time. With many people managing to secure lucrative employment opportunities and establish business ventures, the need for education cannot be estimated. Education provides a means by which people manage to make self-evaluation and assessment and determine what is suitable for them in many angles. This paper explores the experiences that I have had in the course of my life; it outlines how I have met and encountered challenges. I got pregnant, delivered and took courage to go back to school and pursue my ambitions. It also highlights my advice to other young girls that are pursuing their education. Education Education is the single vehicle that people use to manage and achieve their dreams; it is through this process that human beings get to understand their environment and themselves. Education creates international consciousness and awareness, making people understand and interact with different cultures beyond their countrys borders. The world has become a global village with the current developments in information and technology. It is only through education that people can understand how to interact and use technology. Hence, search for opportunities in various parts of the world and solve problems on the same scale. People who miss the opportunity to get proper education face different challenges in life. They miss important opportunities in careers, socializing and interacting with different people. They are tied in an umbrella of ignorance that can only be solved by accessing quality education. After finishing high school, I got a scholarship to study at the University of North Alabama. However, there was one challenge towards access to my education. My step-mother was reluctant to sign the paper that was essential so that I would be guaranteed a place at the university. I tried all options to ensure that the chance did not go to waste. In this case, I sought advice from my friend, who later convinced me to join the U.S army reserve on the buddy system. Having no alternative, I decided to heed the advice of my friend. However, another challenge arose again, my friend failed the Asvab test. This was a mandatory test required to gain entry into the army’s reserve team. In addition, Asvab is an aptitude test that an individual is expected to pass before joining the team. In fact, this challenge did not stand in my way, I finally enlisted as a PFC and an MOS. Importance of education Through education, I have managed to do many things. After giving birth to my daughter, I took courage to go back to school and pursue my education, this is when I completed my education and got a job at my current workplace. From generation to generation, much has been said about the need to have education. Many governments have put in place various strategies to ensure that their citizens are able access better and quality education (Derounian, 2011). Education has been credited for enabling people to discover and understand their skills and talents; this makes them exploit these skills for their own good. Education plays a big role in uniting a people. It makes people aware of other people’s cultures as a heritage to preserve and share. Indeed, many people travel from one country to another to study and learn about other people’s cultures; this could not be attained if there were no system to bring this kind of awareness to people. The skills I have learned in my course Technology Working in the reserve army made me learn various kinds of technology that are used in education and places of work. In addition, the time I took to work for people as a cleaner was also a good opportunity for me to learn how to use various technologies in the home. In fact, in the course of my education, I have interacted with different people and systems in the institution and increased my knowledge about various aspects. For instance, I have managed to communicate with people in different places and made friends too through technology. In terms of technology, the list of things I have learned and managed to do are endless. For instance, I have known how to teleconference and attend classes and seminars taking place in various places in the world. I have managed to communicate with my instructors and take lessons and assignments through the e-learning platform that is accessible through the institution’s online platform. At the same time, I have known how to use different kinds of phones that are far advanced, I have created and installed, vehicle-tracking systems on my car and known how to work with it effectively. Teamwork There is a common saying that when one wants to walk fast in life, he has to walk alone, but if he wants to reach far, he has to walk in a group. This is the essence of teamwork in any venture or learning process. Higher education gives one room to meet and interact with different people from different lifestyles, through such interactions; friendship and lasting relationships are established. I have interacted with different people in the course of my studies and actively participated in group assignments, facilitated projects and group activities. I have learned the art of leadership as well as how to deal with different people. At the same time, I have understood that not all people are the same and that the strength of a successful team lies in its diversity. Communication Communication is the system that makes it possible to manage their daily activities. This is by making it easy for them to share and exchange ideas. Communication is not just the mere talking that people make, but also the process involving sending of information or intended message to the target group and receiving the expected feedback. Through group leadership and project management in my course, I have learned the art of effective communication, and listening to people as they talk. In fact, I have come to realize that listening is one of the most important skills that many people lack. Effective communication involved proper listening to give the intended feedback, in this regard; an effective communicator should also be a good listener. Application of the skills acquired Inspiring others Throughout the process of learning, I have learned several virtues. The experiences I have had in the course of life have shaped my thinking and attitude towards life; I have known the importance of hard work, ethics and respect for others. Education is a process and not an event; it is a form of heat conducted from one person to another. It is a path by which knowledge from previous generations has been passed to us. In fact, in this regard we have all the reasons to pass it to succeeding generations (Wilcox, 2010). I intend to inspire others, through educating them on various systems of life, this will be best achieved through my leadership and places that I will get employment. I intend to reach many young people and share the joy of learning and beauty of education in the hope that they will make better choices and decision to pursue education. For those that are hindered by various limitations, I look forward to creating and influencing systems of that can help them acquire education and achieve their dreams in life. Career management Having learned about different careers grow, and how to grow them successfully, I look forward to developing and growing my career and achieving my dreams. Through education and knowledge gained in my course, I have known how to get opportunities into various careers that are in my line of profession. I intend to make application into various organizations and after getting employment, manage my career to achieve goals and set objectives for the respective company and organization that I will work for (Kinkel, 2011). I also look forward to setting up my enterprises so that I can provide and offer employment opportunities to many other people who are graduating from institutions of higher to join the labor market. Leadership Learning has given me a platform upon which I have managed to discover the leadership skills in me; I have been excellent in leading discussion group and projects in my course. I have been excellent in mobilizing group members to meetings to undertaking projects and group assignments. In fact, the groups that I have led have been successful in scoring high marks during examinations and educational activities assigned. In the future, I will look forward to putting my skills and knowledge into practical and active use in the various places that I will work. I will dedicate my efforts towards achieving set objectives by creating and managing teams in my employment. The beauty of education is seen in practicing and putting the knowledge learned into active use, something that I have decided to do. Opportunities Provided by Higher Education Employment in local and international organizations From my personal experience, I have successfully worked in various organizations just because I have the education and skills, which I have acquired in the course of my education. While I have worked in various organizations locally, there are many friends that we have worked with and have managed to get jobs in other places. Higher education provides an opportunity for meeting and interacting with people in various cultures from other cultures. Through such opportunities, one creates an interest of staying and creating in some places because of the business and career opportunities existing in those places. International and global investments in different parts of the world are, usually, made possible by higher education that such people attend. Through education, one is made aware of organizations and international organizations that are in need of certain professionals (Gallagher, 2013). Higher education makes it easy for people to understand the requirement for international travel and stay in different countries. They can follow such procedures and seek greener pastures in such countries, including changing residence where circumstances dictates so. Business and investment opportunities In addition to seeking employment in different countries, higher education enables people to learn how to identify and exploit business opportunities in their countries and others. By making extensive case studies and research, students undertaking higher education end up creating institutions and systems to provide solutions to problems in their countries. It is through education that people understand how to make their environment better than they find it. This achieved through participation in activities aimed at increasing and improving the welfare of the people. Economic growth and development I can attest that lack 0f education makes it hard for an individual to have any meaningful progress in the society. Having a college education has been a great opportunity for me, I have been able to get jobs in various places, including my current job at General Dynamics that I started in June 2012. Higher education facilitates economic growth and development in many countries; this is by producing human capital to work with companies and organizations as well as the many sectors that exist in the country. Higher education gives an individual the chance of interacting with various systems in the work so that he effectively deals with them upon graduation. Higher education provides windows for work placements and attachment for learners during their studies. This is always an opportunity for them to practice their knowledge before they graduate (Domakin, 2013). It is an opportunity for learning about organizational culture and how doing practical work in teams in the workplace while learning how to carry out their duties. My educational journey The journey into my education has been long, exciting and full of adventure; I have also encountered many challenges and solved them. It is important to point out that the journey into my education has not been easy. Being a single mother and a college student at the same time, was a great challenge. In fact, I was made to quit college and did some odd jobs in order to make some money and take care of my daughter and her education and save some for other needs. I have learned how to interact with different people and tackle the pressures of peer of influence. This is one of the things that has caused many young people to deviate from their journey of education, only to find themselves in what they never expected. In addition, I have learned that to tackle the challenges of peer pressure effectively; one must keep his eyes fixed on the final goal and not be twisted by friends. When an individual follows the public opinion, the sense of direction and objective in life is lost. My recommendation to other people Life is about being fully committed in achieving the intended goals and objectives. The journey into my education has been full of many challenges and triumphs. I was forced to terminate my education at one point in time in order to attend to my child after being pregnant. Being a single parent was not easy, I had to look for ways to take off my child while at the same time, go after my educational goals. I began cleaning people’s houses for a paltry salary just to strike a balance between my personal goals and ambition and educational prospects. My daughter grew and started schooling and later finished her secondary education. I got an encouragement from a couple that I worked for after I was frustrated with life. The couple encouraged me that it was possible that I go back to school and finish my higher education, they even helped finance part of my education. I was able to go back to college, graduating from a community college in 2012, after which I enrolled at ASU in the fall of 2012. One of the most important things an individual can do is discovering his true worth and purpose in life. Therefore, it is easy to decide and make your way into your destiny, this is justice that an individual gives his life. I urge young people to be dedicated in the journey in education, and develop burning ambitions. This is the only way to ensure that they are dedicated to reaching the ultimate levels of excellence in education and leaving their dreams. Lifelong learning After working for 19 years at Chiptec, LLC, I can comfortably ascertain to the fact that my higher education goals have finally paid off. I am looking forward to graduating with a BS in Logistics and Supply chain Management. In the meantime, I have successfully managed to get a new career. I am now working at General Dynamics, and look forward to going further. Education is described as a lifelong process that runs from cradle to grave, for this reason, I look forward to advancing my education and take on different forms of learning. My ambition is to pursue a Six Sigma Certification, perhaps an MBA after a year or more. After completing doctorate studies, I look forward to teaching in various universities and institutions of higher learning (Richardson & Radloff, 2014). This will give me opportunities to do research on a continuous basis, thus carrying on with the learning process. I look forward to writing and publishing various books and journals in my line of profession and contribute to the development of scholarly work in my field of career. By writing and publishing books, I will be acting as an agent through which knowledge and will be preserved and passed on to succeeding generations. References Derounian J. (2011). Shall we dance? The importance of staff-student relationships to undergraduate dissertation preparation. Active Learning in Higher Education. 4(2): 91-100. Domakin A. (2013). Are We Making the Most of Learning From the Practice Placement? Social Work Education. 3(2): 1-13. Gallagher P. (2013). Graduate transition into work: the bridging role of graduate placement programs in the small- and medium-sized enterprise workplace. Journal of Education and Work. 3(9): 1-20. Kinkel D. (2011). Engaging Students in Career Planning and Preparation through E-mentoring, Journal of natural resources and life sciences education. 9(3): 150-9. Richardson S & Radloff A. (2014). Allies in learning: critical insights into the importance of staff–student interactions in university education. Teaching in higher education. 5(4): 1-13. Wilcox K. C. (2010). The Importance of Civic Responsibility in Higher Performing Middle Schools: An Empirical Study. Education and Urban Society. 3(1): 26-41. Read More