"I was in the thick of a political theory course. I was not in my right mind. My life consisted of too much studying and not enough contact with the outside world. When I rediscovered this lengthy paragraph in an obscure file on my laptop I almost wished I could be in school again. Oh, perspective, you little bitch."
There are days when I find myself sitting in front of this very computer shaking my head in disbelief. I cannot understand how so much time can be spent, so much energy invested, and so many pleasures sacrificed all in the name of education.
Today is one of those days.
I am up to my earlobes in reading and studying, so I try to think about the things that make this all bearable. This is harder than it sounds.
Of course, the famous "they" have said that all hard work pays off in the end. Yet, whoever 'they' were did not talk to college students going into obscene amounts of debt simply to become functioning, and hopefully, contributing members of society.
Yes, I am embittered and cynical.
However, I am not lacking perspective. When all grumbling and whining is done, I am all too aware that somewhere, several somewheres actually, there are people that would kill or die to be in my shoes. I am currently engaged in a process that will give me more power than some can ever know. I am getting an education.
I am a vast receptacle of both useful and esoteric knowledge. I do not know everything. In the grand scheme, I know very little. However, I still know more than most, and my life is still new and there is time for more.
On a daily basis, I take an innumerable amount of things for granted. What once were gifts and treasures to appreciate and respect, have become commonplace commodities and conveniences.
Add education to the list.
I have somewhere in my mind come to believe that education is yet another due owed to me. Perhaps it should be, but it is not. Education must be paid for in money, in time, and in effort. This is the “there are education starved children in Africa” argument that our mother’s might espouse during dinner table discrepancies about following through.
Perhaps, someday in the future, far, far away from now, the somewhat embittered and more than a little cynical individuals who will encompass the so called, Educated Elite will do the world a favor and make it less complicated and better for those who come after them, not just here, but everywhere.
This gives me hope and pushes me to do my homework.
Image taken from here
Cartoon taken from this really awesome blog over here.
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