The Value of Good Education

Posted on December 10, 2007
Filed Under Blogging and the Internet, Jobs, Parenting and Family, School, ACET, UPCAT, etc | Viewed 900 times

Lately, my kids have seen how I have been giving writing jobs to some friends and students—sometimes easy ones, as they are copywriting ones, that in between, they get to have the chance to earn some money.
Sometimes, I relent, but I have not been encouraging it. I want them to focus on their studies. These writing jobs are short term, even if you say that they would be there for the next year or two. Writing jobs, or other small jobs for that matter, are only one small facet in a person’s training.

Then I saw BA’s post, called “School Blues”. Somehow I was glad that he understood what I have been impressing to him all along—the value of education, or good education for that matter.

Whenever I’m home and I’m in front of a computer, I can’t help but think that I should stop schooling and start working from home. I see my mom or my brother sitting in front of their slick laptops at night, and earning while sitting and typing and chatting and writing, having breaks whenever and however they want. I could be working like that right now and earning real money, but no. I’m still stuck studying in university.

I doubt I already have this professional maturity when it comes to these type of things. Do you think I could sit down for a few hours and finish a deadline early enough? Right now, if ever I was given a deadline, I think I’d still be finishing things at the very last minute, delaying and procrastinating at every opportunity.

I guess that’s what school teaches you: responsibility.

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And I hope my other kids as well would understand why my husband and I work so hard for their good education. So far, they are doing well in school—not really scholarly ones, but at least better than the ordinary.

BA mentioned about doing work far different from what was studied in school, like his brother Angelo and I are into professional blogging, despite Angelo being an economist, and me as a medical technologist. It’s not a waste even if one finishes a course in college or takes postgraduate studies (had my MBA at the Ateneo) and takes a different path. One has a choice, to continue on with what he or she has studied and mastered in school or go for an entirely different career. Still, it all revolves about taking responsibility on the course of action one chooses.

It is good though to be able to discern where one really is good at—this is what most schools do during the students’ latter part in junior high school, as college entrance tests are usually given in August of the next school year. Yes, in school, one studies not only the core subjects, they learn about vaues formation as well. What is important are the values that are taught in school, the way the children’s Christian lives are molded. I am glad and thankful for the Atenean way that my boys have been brought up, also with the Claretian values of my youngest son (eldest son Angelo had his grade school in Claret before he went to Ateneo HS), the values that are taught in Miriam College, and yes, even the stict upbringing Monica had in St. Theresa’s College (where she went to before going to Miriam College and Ateneo Law School). I am sure the other schools have their own values that they impart to their students, as well.

This is not enough, as there is parental influence—the way parents deal with their children, the way they take time to be with them, the efforts they put into the formation of their character, and yes, the discipline. It is not easy, it continues, and in the process we parents learn, too. We grow together with our children.

I am not against students taking part time work while studying. This, too, teaches them responsibility at an early age. And for others, they have no choice—blame it to poverty (really, we should rise as a nation and take action to help our less fortunate gain their dignity in life!) But what I would like to advise is that, as much as possible, to give their studies their priority. Sometimes, the money that they earn from their part time work entices them to work full time, and totally forget about their studies. No, dear students, continue on with your studies. Value your education—you are blessed to be in school, this is a privilege not enjoyed by many.

This may be out of the topic, but you are the hope of the nation! If the current leadership can’t, I bet you can—Make our nation rise out of this DIRE situation, and make every Filipino and Filipina proud.

Comments

4 Responses to “The Value of Good Education”

Kongkong622 on December 10th, 2007 2:43 pm

The good thing is that they have learned to value all the opportunities, both present and future, that are given to them. I guess that’s what a good education and proper PG (parental guidance) does
Kyels on December 10th, 2007 3:57 pm

School has taught me how to be responsible as well and not practice the JIT (Just In Time) system although sometimes I do procrastinate here and there. Just like BA, I feel that way too because as humans we get morbid and tired once in a while. Hehe.
jireh on December 11th, 2007 8:40 am

I love school tita dine and i love learning more and more each day
miki on December 20th, 2007 11:55 pm

We gain knowledge from school, but if we don’t have proper guidance from our parents, we will never be responsible and be a good person.