Education

Education is vital to mankind's success, regardless of what career path or education someone undertakes. Whether you choose an academic or vocational education, what is important is that you are truly happy and you can earn a living from your eventual career. Understandably not everyone is academically inclined, so we need individuals skilled in the trade fields more than ever. In some instances, people with a trade skill earn more than someone with a degree. All that matters is that you earn a living that is comfortable for you and your family. It is important to make sure you work hard, with sheer dedication and the faith to believe in yourselves. You can accomplish anything when you set your mind and focus on it. Keep in mind, it is very important to choose your friends wisely and don't let anyone discourage you, unless it is for the right reasons, like when it pertains to your well-being and safety. Make sure you are a positive influence on them, and them on you. If you have goals and dreams, pursue them. Never underestimate yourself.  Your possibilities are endless. Just don't wait for the opportunity to come to you, get out there. Make it happen for yourself and you will have no regrets.

“Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.” - B. F. Skinner

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." - John Dewey

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” - Aristotle

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”  - Maimonides

“If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” - Ben Franklin

As you learn and develop as individuals you are going to face many obstacles and challenges in life, it is part of your growth and development. If you make mistakes or face disappointments, that's ok, learn from it and keep moving forward. If you find yourself at an impasse or a crossroads in life, just don't give up. Giving up is an indication you have not tried hard enough. Never give up on yourself, because giving up is not your only option in life. It is always hopeful to try your best since you might not know your potential until you take the initiative and faith to take the first steps toward success. We all have a skill, some may not have realized it yet, but there is no doubt there and you just have to tap into it. You can only reach your full potential when you invest in yourself, and a vital part of that is education. Even if you face failure, it's not the end. Failure helps you reassess and redirect yourself towards a better path in life. Just something to think about when you find yourself questioning your decisions in life.

“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” - Albert Einstein

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” - Malcolm X

“The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn." - Alvin Toffler

“It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.” - Epictetus

“Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.” - Maya Angelou

“I tell students that the opportunities I had were a result of having a good educational background. Education is what allows you to stand out.” - Ellen Ochoa

We learn every day, and our skills evolve. Try new courses, learn a new trade, or even start a business; just keep exploring new ideas and open yourself to learning new concepts. Learning is ongoing, so never stop learning. Whether you are reading a new book, or watching a video on creating and building something, an opportunity to learn is always present. There are places in the world where education is out of reach for most people, and somehow they have skills most of us wish we had. If you have an opportunity don't waste it and just make it happen and you will never regret it later. Some people may want to accomplish something meaningful, while others may have no interest in that, and then there are those trapped in poverty with few or no opportunities in their lives. It is important to identify what goals you have and do your very best to accomplish them. If education teaches you something meaningful, take that and share the knowledge and wisdom with all. I strongly believe a meaningful education gives you direction and purpose in life. At some point when you ask yourself, "What is my purpose in life?" Think about what you want to contribute to life, rather than what you expect in life. Contributing to society is much more meaningful and rewarding than just attaining possessions in life. Life is full of possibilities, you just need to make the required sacrifices, work hard at whatever you set out to achieve, trust and believe in yourself, and remember you have nothing to lose. Just do your best always. Remember if life has taught you anything yet, common sense is the best education by far, use it wisely or you will never make sense of anything.

“The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future life.” - Plato

“Apply yourself. Get all the education you can, but then, by God, do something. Don’t just stand there, make it happen.” - Lee Iacocca

“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.” - Maya Angelou

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” - Dr. Seuss

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” - Mahatma Gandhi

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” - Aristotle