YOUNG VOICE
Is education enough?
Jose Rizal believed that through education, the country receives light. Rizal foretold about the glory that was inherent in schoolbags and chalkboards. We came to know Filipino scientists who wowed the world of new breakthroughs, Filipino health practitioners who served as foundations to healthcare agencies of other nations, and Filipino diplomats who showed versatility and global competitiveness.
For many years, many had inculcated that education equals success and that a diploma is tantamount to a loaded bank account. That it can solve poverty. But, when you look around, you ask, is this really true?
We know this typical story. A poverty-stricken family residing in a foul and polluted slum area, sleeping in a mosquito infested room with ceilings that drip when it rains. The mother and father are elementary school graduates. She washes clothes for a living, while he has no stable job. Yet, they worked harder. One night, while their fourth year high school daughter was scribbling her trigonometry assignment, they approached her and advised her to take up a course that will earn her an immigrant visa so she could work there and earn a foreign currency. Daughter agrees and the rest of her younger siblings stopped school. She promised that when she is in another country, she’ll be funding her siblings’ education. The family becomes apprehensive and excited of future balikbayan boxes and imported chocolates. The daughter studied hard. She denied romantic suitors, finished college then took up and passed the board exam, but eventually ended up unemployed.
The daughter received education, the family believed in education and yet they remain all itchy and sweaty from mosquito bites and dripping ceilings.
As I see it, education alone can’t shed the maximum amount of light to the country or to a family. Today, our country can’t provide ample job opportunities and some nations are projecting to close doors for human services imports. We have a lot of job applicants with less hirable positions. This is certainly the survival of the fittest, those who are willing to exhaust all means just to attain that valued stamp on their passports or simply impress extensively the employer will garner greater chances of getting hired or earning more.
I still believe that education is by far an essential towards success and one’s very ability to thrive. Yet, I am now certain that it isn’t only education that will pull you through. There are a lot of cum laudes who are jobless, doctoral degree holders underemployed, a lot of educated people who haven’t received light. Since I am not yet in the working world, I don’t exactly know what it takes to rise above and reach for the coveted employment. But I do know that determination and willingness to move on despite misfortunes and U-turns will reward you of better pastures.
The primary reason for some underemployed and unemployed graduates is once they had a few downturns during their job-seeking course; they’ll just give up and settle for mediocrity.
We are too ascertained that education can take us heights. Well, yes it indeed can but together with the spirit, a dash of luck and faith. I am quite frightened that one day when I graduate I’ll end up like some who can’t explore their limits and further their enkindled education through actual practice. I am quite frightened that I may end up frustrated, that after all those four and more years of sleepless nights and financial investment I’ll end up spending the rest of my productive life paying off the capital, hopelessly in search of profits.
We need more jobs that fit our education. Filipino education, behind those poor facilities and termite-infested classrooms, can still be considered as quality. When we graduate we’re ready for the outside world, but today the outside world seems not ready for us.
To all the graduates, I wish you the best of luck in your future careers. Strive hard to be employed. When in doubt, pray. When about to give up, just think about your siblings who stopped schooling for you to finish your own and most especially your dripping ceiling back home.
I would like to commend my brother, Ramon Ariel Ken M. Garcia for graduating as Valedictorian of the elementary graduating class of Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus. May he spare himself of being unemployed oneday.
Happy Graduation Batch 2009!
(For comments and reactions please send an SMS to 09186363090 or an email to reylangarcia@gmail.com. View my blog at http://www.theyoungvoice.blogspot.com)