Purpose of an Education by Katlyn

Purpose of an Education by Katlyn - April 2015 Scholarship Essay

What is the purpose of an education? For many, the answer to this question may vary but in my opinion the purpose is to grow as a human being and man-kind together as a whole. Education may be explained as the process of acquiring data and knowledge, along with learning various forms of behavior and competency in a specific field. Knowledge has no end. Therefore, a person simply cannot know everything. The purpose of an education is not to “know everything.” As Norman Cousins puts it, “The purpose of education is to enable us to develop to the fullest that which is inside us.”

Education is one thing man-kind does have the power to manipulate. If one is willing to learn, why stop them? We can continue learning and growing as long as we are willing. Some may think education is a burden, not a priority, but it is miraculous in so many ways. Opening your mind makes the possibilities endless. Some grow to see the importance of education while others are blind. In today’s society, education is key. Growing mentally instills values and principles that help to decipher between right and wrong. A world without morals would most likely be filled with complete chaos. According to statistics, it is not just decision-making skills with which education goes hand and hand; education also deals with healthcare. People in uneducated countries are more likely to carry diseases and have low quality of living. If we, as a country, do not understand the purpose of an education and the impact of not having one, we are doomed for disaster; that is inevitable. We should want better for the next generations.

With knowledge also comes the responsibility to utilize it. As human beings we have the responsibility to serve the world with the resources that we can supply it with. Knowledge is one resource that we can supply abundantly. We can create an environment where economic growth and our welfare can flourish. Together, by understanding the purpose of an education, we can pass down knowledge from generation to generation, resulting in internal improvement. Only we can improve the situations that which we put ourselves in. Some people are afraid of the potential they possess; not knowing others feed off their drive to succeed. When a person strives to do better for themselves, they only set an example for those around them.

So back to the question at hand-What is the purpose of an education? We are the purpose. Bettering ourselves is the purpose. Evolving is the purpose. Wanting better for our society is the purpose. Giving the people around you hope for a better future is the purpose. We all need to live by a higher standard. We must set higher goals. Why? Because that is the only way we are ever going to succeed together. A person cannot simply move a mountain by oneself. It takes all of man-kind to start a sequence of changes. We can start these changes by coming together to share the importance of an education. This is not just for today. This is for today and the days yet to come.