Letter E of the word Career

Education formal or informal is a crucial component of a successful career. In 2008 I was working as a secretary in one of the government departments. One day a colleague of mine asked me a question which raised my eyebrows to something I was not aware of She said Bogadi are you aware that, you are the most educated person in this entire floor . Even more than those we were secretaries to. It was a floor of senior managers of the department. From my colleagues statement, I had to ask myself questions
What is education? what is its purpose and goal? Am I a product of such a thing? I had to look back at the amount of money spent at the university and beyond in “ Education” I had to remember the time spent there. I remembered the sleepless night I had. I asked myself if it was worth it. I looked around myself there was nothing much to show for it except a decorated paper called a certificate. The input did not match the output at all.. . I discovered that the base of the problem was I studied without a greater purpose in mind. I studied because it was expected of me to study. It was not clear to me from the very beginning as to WHY? I wanted to study . The picture of the future was not clear. I believed and believe so much in education that even after the degree I continued to study further. The only problem was that I was studying haphazardly without any focus or vision. I was taking steps but to no specific direction. From experience I can firmly say education or studying without a vision ,is a waste of time and resources. Education without purpose clarity & vision = Average,broke,frustrated graduate. .Lack of clarity or Lack of vision in pursuing formal education results in an escalating number of graduates who do not have much to show for it. Graduates who are not confident in the market place. Lack of vision and clarity of the future justify the escalating number of students who yearly drop out of school before completing their studies. A havard study on goal setting took place in the 1950s with the follow up in the the 1980’s.The study showed that only 3% of respondents had set their goal at the time of their graduation and in the 1980’s this 3% was financially worth more than the remaining 97% combined. We can safely conclude that education becomes a useful weapon when pursued with understanding, vision and clarity of the expected end. Education will serve humanity well if pursued with the understanding that: It is not just a ticket to good life but it is an enhancer of passion and talents It is a vehicle to a greater purpose ,It is an enlightener and a developer We need to understand that it does not start and end in a classroom ...but it should be a lifetime commitment ,commitment to personal and skill development. Education is not just about good grades ,it is not about the learning of facts but it is about the training of the mind. Education is not just lessons in the textbook but it is lessons about life. Education is a must for masses because: It improves ones confidence and guards to face the world It positions one for a economic freedom It refines & enhances comprehension It improves communication and enhances relevance It gives us a different and a better perspective towards life. It helps us build opinions and have points of view about life. Nelson Mandela said – Education is the most powerful weapon through which you can change the world Education becomes a sharper and effective weapon when augmented or sharpened by the right mindset, hands on experiences, good relationships and great mentors.