Education is not The Key to Success, But to Development

Benjamin Franklin once said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” What better way is there to gain knowledge than receiving an education? Education is the key to success. It allows us to have a deeper understanding of the world around us and also allows us to develop the ability to make rational judgements. These things will aid us in helping make the world a better place. Education is especially important for us because we are at a point in our lives where we can take advantage of the opportunity that has been given to us and change the course of our lives. Our chances of succeeding are greatly amplified through the effort that we put in at school. There are several success stories from people who did not thrive in school, but all in all, education is truly the key to success, as it develops characteristics and attributes that one will need as an adult and also raises your chances of employment by giving you more credibility and qualifications. Why we can say that education is the key to success is explained in the essay.

Education is the Key to Success and Self-Development

While receiving an education, we develop many traits and skills that we will need in the future as workers and as adults. These characteristics can be applied not only in a work environment, but in our daily life as well. Going to school, we practice time and task management as we must keep up with numerous assignments and tests for multiple different subjects. We learn how to learn as we gather knowledge, learn the knowledge and apply the knowledge. We develop interpersonal skills as we interact with our peers. Teamwork, social skills, and conflict resolution are all important interpersonal skills that we need in order to work efficiently with others. Education develops critical thinking and reasoning, which will result in us becoming wiser and more sagacious. Knowledge and wisdom allows us to become a useful part of society, beneficial for humankind. These traits will significantly reduce the chance of failure at whatever you do and will help us to become better people as a whole as it trains us to become informed people of intelligence. Not only does education develop these positive traits, it also provides you with more opportunities to succeed.

Higher levels of education raises the levels of credibility that you have and also provides you with qualifications that you will need when you are pursuing a certain position. As you know, when you graduate from college, you will receive a degree. I’m sure that you have all heard numerous times that getting a degree is essential for your future, but it really is important in regards to being successful. Porter Stansberry, an American financial publisher and author, wrote this in an article, “I'd tell any teenager today the same thing: Forget about college. Instead, travel for a year. Go to several major cities. Work and intern in many different industries. Get a sense of the world. Meet people from other cultures. Learn what makes people tick. Learn history and geography.” So, is a higher level of education really necessary to succeed? To answer this question, we must look at the data. Anecdotal stories can be more on the more inspirational side instead of informative. According to a study done by Georgetown University, people with a degree will have added about a million dollars to their total lifetime earnings compared to someone without a degree as they are much more likely to be working jobs that have a higher pay and require much more skill and training. People with degrees are also statistically more secure financially. And even if you were to fail, the things that you learned while pursuing your degree will be something that you are able to fall back on, giving you a significantly greater chance of succeeding after failure. Places of education, such as college, provides you with opportunities to network and make connections, which gives you more future opportunities. And after hearing all this, you might still be thinking, “yeah all of this is true, but there are tons of people who succeed without high levels of education and I can do it if they can.”

It is often brought up that many people have succeeded without receiving or completing their education and although this is true, having an education is a much more safer and surefire way of having success when compared to trying to succeed without an education. There are many people who have become successful without completing their education, but the number of people who have become successful with an education is far greater. We must realize that success without an education is an exception, not a rule. Knowledge and wisdom is gained through two things, education or experience. It is clear to see that education is a much more easier and safer way to reach success. Some people might also say that education plays a small part in success and that what really defines a successful person is their entrepreneurial spirit. We can define the entrepreneurial spirit with the 6 c’s: character, commitment, conviction, courage, courtesy, and competence. What people often don’t take into account is that entrepreneurial spirit can be developed through the trials of receiving an education and can be refined as an educated mind will be able to apply these 6 c’s more wisely than one who is not as well educated. We see this when we take a look at the ratio of successful people with and without completing their education.  

Conclusion

In conclusion, education undeniably serves as a crucial key to success in today's world. Through education, individuals are equipped with knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities that empower them to navigate the complexities of life and achieve their goals. Education not only opens doors to better career opportunities but also fosters personal growth and societal advancement. It is the foundation upon which innovation, progress, and positive change are built.

References

1. Darling-Hammond, L. (2010). The flat world and education: How America's commitment to equity will determine our future. Teachers College Press.

2. Levin, B., & Fullan, M. (2008). Learning about system renewal. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 36(2), 289-306.

3. OECD. (2019). Education at a Glance 2019: OECD Indicators. OECD Publishing.

4. UNESCO. (2015). Education for All 2000-2015: Achievements and Challenges. UNESCO.

5. Hattie, J. (2009). Visible Learning: A Synthesis of Over 800 Meta-Analyses Relating to Achievement. Routledge.

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6. Sirin, S. R. (2005). Socioeconomic status and academic achievement: A meta-analytic review of research. Review of Educational Research, 75(3), 417-453.