The Books Matter

Why Students Should Appreciate Education More

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

It is common knowledge that time moves slower on a microwave, treadmill or in school. Many students come to school dreading the day ahead and are ready to go home. While this mindset may come about because of issues or drama at school, most of the time it is because they don’t want to do work or would rather be doing other things. Since there is no shortage of education for most students, it is hard to appreciate its value. There are many reasons to appreciate education, but most don’t notice its use in anything other than getting a job.

Education is something that can’t be taken for granted, depending on the circumstance, so it is very valuable to a person. Having a degree can provide stability with finding and keeping a job, which ensures financial and social stability. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the more you learn, the more you earn. The higher a degree someone has, the more median income they earn per week. Moreover, education, specifically higher education, improves the nation’s economic situation. This helps people contribute to society, which benefits them in the long run. However, not everyone can freely enjoy this, so students should always be thankful for their privilege.

The ultimate role of education is to prepare students for the real world. According to the Habitat for Humanity of Broward, the educational system teaches students how to obtain and develop critical and logical thinking so they can make independent decisions. Not everything learned in school, such as the notorious calculus, will be directly applied to the real world. It is rather the resilience that a student puts into doing well in calculus that will help them later on in life. Additionally, the social interactions at school can help students prepare for the future. Being in a diverse environment where people with different opinions can discuss important topics prepares students for how they treat others in society.

244 million children don’t have the privilege to start the school year in the fall, according to  UNESCO. This high number is due to various conflicts and situations, butand it is a reminder that being educated is a privilege, rather than something students are “forced” to do. The absence of access to education for other students around the world shouldn’t be the reason a student sees value in their education, but rather the reason they recognize their privilege to education. This realization will help them see the value of education and therefore become grateful for it.

While some might claim that education isn’t necessary because there are other ways to be successful, education acts as a safety net for possible mishaps in life. There are many jobs that don’t require a degree, especially with social media. However, if these apps were to go away or something were to happen with a person’s platform, they have their degree to fall back on. 

Seeing the value in education helps aid in putting more effort into the process of finishing education, no matter the stage. Looking into the next steps or benefits of your education journey may help you understand why education is a blessing rather than a requirement.