Freedom for Action by Lindsey

Freedom for Action by Lindsey - April 2015 Scholarship Essay

The purpose of education is a question that no one person has a clear and universal answer to. However, I believe that education is single-handedly the most important factor for change throughout the world, as well as increasing the standard of life for future generations. Education is simply a tool for survival and progression of society. It is the essential factor for opportunity, that can apply to individual growth as well as all the way up towards the global scale.

Education is an extremely broad term. It encompasses academic aspects, as well as skills beyond that including social/survival and personal/emotional elements. Thus, education as a whole enables the human species to learn and grow. I believe education's purpose is to expand our freedom on various levels. The word freedom in this case refers to the unlimited and continuous expansion. These levels include a few major elements that include smaller and more specific attributes. Education must act as a tool to widen our freedom of thought and expression. This refers to education’s responsibility in passing down the helpful information regarding cognitive instruments and skills, ability to master language (including cultural, programming, mathematical, etc.), literary and graphical expression, and capacity to communicate properly just to name a few. These examples embody the skills that have let humanity evolve into what it is now. This type of intelligence allows us to critically think, express ideas between each other, discover to learn more, and survive as a collective species.

Meanwhile, the other type of ‘freedom’ that I believe education’s direction is, is freedom of affect and communion. This is what ties intelligence with execution. The information part of education focuses on the tools we need to get started, whether it’s an individual’s learning process of a global change. It primarily encompasses physical information and to learn about the world we live in, as well as the skills to problem solve and think about the things we don’t know already. However, this second responsibility of education teaches of the more societal and emotional aspects of humanity. The freedom or affect and communion consists of team skills, negotiating and communicating with others, developing empathy and healthy emotions, and learning to connect with the world instead of simply observing or thinking about it. In addition to these slightly more abstract skills, this education must teach basic social concepts.
The determination of education is often an agitating questions to those who want an answer. However by thinking broadly, the universal answer is simply for humanity to survive, progress, and adapt. We live in a very fast paced world regarding our advancements in technology and other applicable areas. Therefore, education must focus on the fundamental skills to teach others how to learn for themselves. All of the above characteristics are ever growing traits to shape individuals, resulting in shaping societies and the world. It must be an expanding process, in addition to a collaborative one. Education must allow people to have access to the existing, as well as to create and connect with others for new ideas. It must be a process to bring known and possible to together, and novices and experts together. Simply put, education exists for us to grow; by transforming our freedoms to shape a world that we would like ourselves and future generations to live in.