IT'S THE SMALL THINGS

As the new school year has just begun, I find it fitting to talk about one of my personal advocacies – education. Rather, why among the many causes that need attention, I chose to take a stance in – albeit a small role in the community – trying to make [early childhood] education accessible to all.

Education is an investment – for parents, for the government, for whoever is sponsoring the tuition – in as much as I believe it is a right for all. It is just as much an investment for the students who work hard to earn their stripes as a stepping stone to landing a good job and lucrative career later in life. It is one of those things that you reap what you sow – the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. Education is a worthwhile investment because as fleeting as most things in this world are, it is one of those that is not. It is a gift that once given, cannot be taken away, regardless of the many scenarios and circumstances one may encounter and endure in life. Despite the hardships, and the challenges, education can only help someone, and can only be built and compounded upon.

Education gives someone confidence and a heightened sense of self-worth. After all, as the famous saying goes: knowledge is power. The discipline that allows an individual to thrive in school is the same discipline that will motivate an individual, and drive one to success later on in life. Besides the academic component, equally important are the non-academic skills one grows to learn and embody from being in a school setting. In fact, so much more is derived from a proper and holistic education – social skills, communication skills, values formation, and just simply taking responsibility and accountability for one’s actions – than just learning history, the sciences, how to read, write and count.

As with many other things in life, reality has it however that not everyone is given equal opportunity, nor access to education. This is why if we were one of the ones blessed enough to have had the chance to experience quality education, I believe that it is also our duty to somewhat give back to our community, and in turn, invest in the education of someone who may otherwise be deprived for whatever reason. Life is cyclical, and the good begets good.

Whether it is through supporting an organization that advocates for education, or simply volunteering our time to a cause, or directly to an individual who could benefit from what we have to teach and share with them, taking your part in being an agent of education could truly change the world – in more, and bigger ways than you might even imagine.