Empowerment Through Education to Create a Better World
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
– Nelson Mandela
Knowledge is Power!
Hence why I love acquiring new knowledge. I just love learning and when I first had my brain injury, I was devastated as I thought I would never be able to learn new things again. However, I turned that around by not learning to gain knowledge for power. But I use learning as a form of therapy for my injured brain. By educating myself with the knowledge needed, it helps me to understand and manage my conditions better so I can move forward positively. And that’s how my traumatic brain injury heals faster than what the doctors anticipated.
When I went back to University as a mature student with a history of brain injury, I remember my mom and doctor were not pleased with it. Though I must admit it wasn’t easy but I actually enjoyed it. And now being a business owner, there are a number of skill sets or tasks which I learn to do them myself and this has saved me a lot of money and stress. Although at times, learning something new can cause headaches and anxiety to a point, I still love the process because I know I’ll be learning something new which will contribute to my personal and business growth.
However, when people think of “education” they mostly think about schools. About how we learn as children in elementary schools, then go on to high school, college, and even beyond that. While education surely includes all those things and they are of course so, so, so important to society, I want you to think beyond that.
When we go to school, tasks are laid out in front of us. Teachers teach us things. Rules are posted on the walls of the school. Books to be read are listed. Things to research are posted as homework. We don’t have to make an effort on what to learn. All of those things are just laid out in front of us. I call that the ‘spoon-feed’ education system.
However, once we graduate it is not the same thing anymore. We get caught up in the adulting and the jobs that we have to do in order to pay our bills. We forget to learn and educate ourselves with what’s going on in the world. As adults, we no longer have curriculums to guide us. As adults, it is up to us to educate ourselves.
You might be asking: we are done with school, why do we still need to keep learning and educate ourselves?
- Education empowers people
When you are educated, you are confident and other people can sense that energy from you. When people feel this confident energy from you, it will empower them to take their own stand confidently.
As Nelson Mandela has said, “Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.”
When you are educated, you become confident and when you are confident, you become a leader.
- Education helps us stand for what is right
Being educated means that you know the difference between right and wrong. Education helps lower crime rates as educated people know what they should and shouldn’t do.
“The power of education extends beyond the development of the skills we need for economic success. It can contribute to nation-building and reconciliation.” This is another great quote from Nelson Mandela. As you can see, we can all help in building a great nation and foster reconciliation by educating ourselves.
- Education makes you smarter
This is pretty obvious but just by educating yourself, you won’t get easily swayed by various opinions you hear. You won’t jump blindly to whatever the media is showing. You will make smarter decisions and will be able to lead people like a lion instead of being led like sheep.
Currently, the world is facing crises and each one of us can make a difference. If we want the world to be better then it all starts with us. We need to be lifelong learners so we can be better. When we are better, that’s how we inspire our family, friends and community to be better. And that’s how we collectively can make the world be better.
I challenge you all to be lifelong learners. Education doesn’t have to stop inside the four walls of the classroom. Reading books and learning from credible sources can totally help you lead like a lion.
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