BY: CHRISTOPHER FERNANDEZ
There are those of us who for some reason are unable to receive a formal education. But going to a college or university, while being a form of education, is really with the aim and objective of arming ourselves with paper qualifications.
A college or university graduate is fulfilling his or her bid in the paper chase. What this translates into really is that these graduates are trained and certified in a certain discipline and this must not be mistaken for an education.
This should not in any way discourage or demotivate anyone from pursuing tertiary qualifications, but more importantly, a person must aspire to enroll in the ‘University of Life’ which is the learning process from cradle to grave.
This form of education is very precious and valuable and everyone of us human beings unknowingly follow this rigmarole but can never be able to graduate from the University of Life as it is for their whole life.
Education as The Great Equalizer
There are theorists who argue that if people receive a good and sound and real education most of the problems and issues plaguing humankind can be solved easily and there would be betterment, peace and harmony in this world.
But this must not be confused or mistaken with formal education. Formal education may be necessary to give us a headstart in life but the fact is a person cannot escape from learning, growing and developing everyday of their lives.
This is important as this process of learning adds life to our years, and years to our life, and if for whatever reason a person stops learning, growing and developing, the person is actually beginning to vegetate and becomes invalid as a human being.
Therefore, in all ways wise and wonderful, there is a need, a vital need to connect the dots in discovering the truths about life and how a person can accordingly benefit to live as much as possible a meaningful and purposeful life.
There is no escape for anyone from learning
Learning throughout life is constant and consistent and no human being can escape from being taught in the University of Life as every day there is something new a person learns and this gives us full thrust to go on in life to discover as much as possible.
Do not despair if you have missed out on a formal education from nursery to tertiary as there are other avenues and opportunities to learn to acquire knowledge which helps us to empower our lives in a greater measure.
Ray Bradbury, the author of ‘The Martian Chronicles,’ goes further by suggesting that a person should not bother to opt for a college or university education but to go to libraries and spend time just reading avidly and devouring knowledge.
While a better course of action would be to undergo formal education, it is equally important and necessary to never stop learning through experiential ways or through trial-and-error or from those around you.
There is absolutely no substitute for knowledge and experience
No matter how many paper qualifications a person acquires, there is the belief that life is in living, learning and experiencing for which there can be no substitute as there is the gain of hands-on working encounters.
But wherever a person is, the mind must not be switched off, but in every waking moment a person must be learning and developing his intelligence, knowledge and gaining information to be living on the cutting-edge of life.
There can be no mistaking that these kinds of educational processes lead people forward and enlighten them, developing their insight and foresight, creating awareness and a greater understanding of life.
Don’t stop the joy of learning no matter how young or old you are because this is the elixir of life to sustain and nurture us, making us prudent and conscientious people, who are progressively becoming healthy, happy, wealthy, wise and well.
**Christopher Fernandez is an avid reader and thinker, a poet and philosopher, a teacher and writer, who, as he ages, seems to wear many more hats in living a full life
-THE MALAYSIA VOICE
(The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher)
