The Opportunity of Education by Khadeeja

The Opportunity of Education by Khadeeja - January 2021 Scholarship Essay

Have you ever thought about whether education is a privilege or a right? I believe that education is a privilege. I say this because not everyone has the opportunity to go to school. It is made to seem like it is a right but indeed requires a certain advancement to go to but can also offer more economical advancement when completed. As young kids we are privileged enough to think that us going to school is a right because it is what is normal to us. This is not the case for everyone. There are many people that are much less privileged and live in places where going to school everyday is not a normal thing for them. This divide is what separates education from being a right and being a privilege.
This divide starts at a young age but follows us through adolescents and into adulthood. Up until high school although things are unfair, the difference only grows. When filling out applications to possible colleges, finding scholarships, and gathering funds to pursue schools is when privilege is shown. Privilege comes in many forms in education, as money, as economic status, as ethnicity, and as what you have to offer to colleges. Students who play sports often have a much better chance of receiving higher education regardless of academics because they offer more for colleges in means of publicity and income. People with low income may be able to find financial aid though colleges but often times that aide is not enough to complete your education. Majority of college classes require a computer, textbooks, supplies such as notebooks and pencils. Even these are the basic materials needed, usually classes require more than just the basic necessities.
Most people cannot further their education because they do not have the privilege of working part-time, full-time, or not at all while being a part-time or full-time student. School takes up a lot of time and with only so many hours in the day, people must prioritize their needs and responsibilities and more than often let go of their hopes of higher education. Financial aid helps with educational needs but does not go as far as housing and other essential needs. Even if assistance is available for these things, only so many people are ever able to be helped. Recently, there has been a lot of light shined on the idea of rights and privileges. The idea of privileges and the difference in opportunities is being acknowledged a lot more. I believe that college is a privilege for those who fit most criteria and often those who are privileged enough to attend don’t look at it as a privilege but much rather as a right because it is what they know. This being said, just because one does attain the privilege of attending schools and getting a higher education does not mean they do not work for it, it means that they have the opportunity to work for it and that is what separates education as a privilege and not a right.