Education as a Revolutionary Act by Raquel

Education as a Revolutionary Act by Raquel - November 2015 Scholarship Essay

To think and voice one’s opinion freely is a revolutionary act. The freedom to be educated on a plethora of subjects, knowingly that such concepts could strike a disagreement is what sparks my interest in education. With the freedom of thought and freedom of speech, ordinary people have the ability to investigate, inform and bring up ideas that society has not thought of beforehand. Coming from a Salvadorian family, my parents immigrated to the United States for an education in which the government did not inflict nor control their children’s opinions. From fifteen years of education, I have seen this revolutionary act particularly in public education, where teachers are extremely passionate to teach and help students in understanding the importance of education. To me, education is not simply a gateway to finding a job on the “real world.” It is due to the freedom of thought and freedom of speech in the American public institutions in which I have been able to find an identity as my own persona, rather than being identified by my family’s opinions or the beliefs of the government. Education signifies having a knowledge that can have a real effect on the next generations, and that is exactly what public education has taught me.
Firstly, the freedom of thought is the reason that distinguishes our country from other nations, and particularly the aspect that I am most thankful for in my education. During the past three years of my college education, I have learned immensely from professors with different ideologies or ways of thinking. This diversity was vital in order for me to be educated on different perspectives. One class that stands out in particular is of Hispanic World Today. History originally was written by Caucasian men that were of higher social class, which excluded the history of the voiceless such as the indigenous people in South and Central America. Through the freedom of thought, I was able to convey my own opinion through the knowledge I received from educated and open-minded teachers. Never in these fifteen years was my opinion controlled by the government or those in power, as it would have been in El Salvador or any other country that relies its beliefs on a political party. For that reason, public education allows students to have their own ideas and ideologies.
Likewise, the freedom of speech gives each student the opportunity to state their ideas openly without feeling they will be punished. Although religion or politics may be two topics most teachers prefer to not discuss, in majority of my business and liberal art classes we always had debates with other peers. With freedom of speech, one can convey their opinion and share it with other classmates even if the latter may disagree. Even in debates students are able to hear both sides of the story and then with the freedom of thought, they have the choice to think however they like. This freedom of thinking freely and actually not having the fear of being judged from your beliefs is the reason why this society is constantly changing and being more open minded.
In conclusion, I truly believe that the freedom of thought and freedom of speech have been of huge importance on my growth as a citizen of the United States and of the world. Public education has given me the background that I needed in order to be knowledgeable about certain topics, however, it also has given me the opportunity to choose my own beliefs and to be able to share my opinions freely. Whether it is from debates in classes or the lectures from passionate professors, I have been taught that as long as one can prove their ideas, that individual is free to think in that manner.