What Is Education?

Education begins the moment we experience our first sensation. It’s a continual integration of the world around us. Education is our ability to evolve, adapt, recall, and learn from the complexity of the world. As we get older, we are put into schools to streamline our learning process and foster imagination. Public education’s primary role is to teach us things without us having to experience them firsthand. Education is not a privilege, it is a cornerstone of the human experience. A good education, however, is a privilege often taken for granted. Education, for me, is my own pursuit of knowledge and the efficiency with which I choose to attain it, and I aim to wholeheartedly expand my education as much as possible.

Education is unending. You cannot willingly stop feeling, experiencing, or being, all of which are fundamental components of education. Education in the contemporary classroom setting is often measured by your ability to focus and memorize. What a vast majority fail to comprehend is that we can do as much to educate ourselves outside of the classroom as inside.The most freeing moment in my education thus far was when I was first able to identify myself as a leader. Through this discovery I have been able to grow and succeed more than I could have ever previously hoped. None of this would have been possible without the learning I gained through formal education and my own pursuits of knowledge. I consider myself a leader because I am not afraid to take charge, share my opinion, and open up to others. This sets me apart. This may not seem like it relates in any way to education, but it does. In the classroom, I am given so many chances to branch out, share and strengthen my talents. Even more importantly, I am given opportunities to improve upon my weaknesses. Outside of the classroom, I can explore my ability to love others, to love myself, and push boundaries.

Education is what you allow it to be. So much of our lives is hinged on the...