Education Vs Diploma.docx

Column Name: Justice Valiant

Get an education, not a diploma

Have you ever thought on what your life would be after college? After marching on graduation, do you think you got an EDUCATION or just a DIPLOMA? Do you think you know enough to stay and excel by the time you practice your profession? A diploma just means you went to school, attended class, passed and graduated, but it doesn’t show you’ve actually learned anything. It is when you learn something, apply what you learned and do this consistently that you have an education. A diploma is just something written on paper while an education is something earned and will eventually be written within you. I do not want to sound like an expert on this because of course I am not. I just want to share something that I feel is right to us students. It is not an education if you got high scores in exams because you memorized the book rather than understanding it and knowing what it really means. Memorizing and understanding are very different things. In one of the scenes of one of my most favourite movie “3 Idiots”, the student said to his teacher, “What’s the point of blindly cramming a bookish definition, one must know the meaning too.” This is very true, what is the point of knowing the meaning if you do not understand it? Do you think that when you get on your first job, you will know what to do? You won’t know what to do if you just learned by the book; so, go beyond the textbook. Learn from other people, experience, media and others. One way to learn from experience is taking risks. College is the time to make mistakes because in the real world, a simple mistake could cost you a lot. While you are still in school, try a lot of things, take risks and experiment. Just make sure these risks are smart and worth it. Regardless of whether you receiving an associate’s, bachelors, masters, doctorate, or a certificate, your diploma is only worth the knowledge you’ve gained during your time enrolled in school. When it comes down to it, you aren’t paying for a piece of paper; you are paying for an education. Ultimately the goal is to look at your diploma with pride and know you’ve earned it through learning and dedication, not just because you could pay for it. Remember, getting an education does not end after you have your diploma. The thirst for knowledge is endless. Every day is a climb at the ladder of knowledge. Go for it!