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You are here: Home / Reflections on Life / Being You / Authentic Living / The Value Of A Formal Education And Why It Can’t Ever Be Wasted

The Value Of A Formal Education And Why It Can’t Ever Be Wasted

4th September 2015 By Jonelle 9 Comments

I wasn’t the best student in school.

In fact, I was pretty damn lazy about it.

I once woke up to an actual hiding from my aunt for not studying. In my defence though, it was really boring and I was 12. Anything else in the world was more exciting than the book I was supposed to be learning from.

When I got to high school, it was always the same. I’d get my work done immediately after school so that I didn’t have to think about it again. Instead I could watch TV with my family or talk on the phone with my friends or write letters. I loved writing letters. I have always loved writing, even back then.

Then I got to University and I was still me. I remember writing assignments while watching law series on TV. If you couldn’t multi-task then what was the point of living. I never missed a class. Studious? Hell No. I just found that if you concentrated on what the lecturer was actually saying, you didn’t have to also read the material. You could get enough knowledge to write an essay and then just find the sources to reference it at the end.

The Value Of A Formal Education And Why It Can't Ever Be Wasted | Tyranny of Pink

The defining moment (there’s always one isn’t there?)

Every time my dad called and asked what I was doing I’d lie and say “studying” because isn’t that what dads want to hear.

Until the day I overheard my dad say to a business colleague;

“That’s my daughter – she’s not very bright but she works very hard.”

I knew I had only myself to blame for that one. Years of being at school and pretending to be working really hard when actually all I wanted was to live my life. My grades did not reflect someone who was working “very hard.”

So my dad thought, I must be dumb and it didn’t sit well with me.

Making Change Happen

The Value Of A Formal Education And Why It Can't Ever Be Wasted | Tyranny of Pink

I vowed to change that and I did. It was too late for him to know but I graduated top of my Masters degree. I think it was more about proving a point than anything else.

In spite of it all,  I learnt a lot through my education.

I learnt that there is so much more that you discover while in school. You don’t just learn the material in the books. You learn about life. You learn the value of life and living. You learn communication skills and you learn negotiation. You learn to question everything. You learn to be skeptical and you learn about what makes you tick.

[bctt tweet=”Education changes everything about the way you see the world #QOTD “]

I have all these degrees and people say I’m way too educated to JUST be a stay at home mom. I should be out there doing something magical with my education and yet here I am. Happy as hell! I know the value of my education. I know the value of happiness and I know that no matter how many people think I’m wasting my life, this is the life that makes me happy. I know I don’t need to justify that to anyone but I know so many of us do.

How things shape us

I wouldn’t trade my education for anything because it has shaped who I am and the opinions I have about the world. It has taught me to look at things from various angles. It has opened my mind to so many possibilities and truths that exist in this world. Being educated has added to my quality of life in many more ways than I knew possible.

The only thing I would change would be studying something I love over what I thought I should do but even in those moments – there were lessons to learn. No regrets.

Life is all about the lessons you can learn from every situation and every experience and I wouldn’t change a single one.

Joni_Sig

Filed Under: Authentic Living, Being You, Social Issues Tagged With: acceptance, be who you are, believe in yourself, choosing me, education is always a good ida, following your dreams, goals, life choices, life purpose, the value of education, there's no such thing as wasted education, why I have no regrets about my wasted education

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Heather says

    19th September 2015 at 8:05 pm

    education is something no-one can take away from you…

    Reply
  2. DaniEchelon says

    4th September 2015 at 11:27 am

    I completely agree with you. I was never a fan of school either but I am glad I got my education, it’s so important and has definitely moulded me into the person I am today.

    xo

    Reply
    • TyrannyofPink says

      4th September 2015 at 11:30 am

      It’s pretty amazing isn’t it 🙂

      Reply
  3. survivingjonkersville says

    4th September 2015 at 8:16 am

    Sorry there was only a ‘Like’ button so I couldn’t ‘Love’ this from the get go. Great post!

    Cannot agree more with the lessons we take from every situation and experience.

    Reply
    • TyrannyofPink says

      4th September 2015 at 11:29 am

      🙂 Thanks Celeste, that makes me extra smile!
      Sometimes the lessons aren’t so obvious and it takes a while but there is always one someone in there!

      x

      Reply
  4. Walter says

    4th September 2015 at 7:49 am

    I always look forward to reading your daily blog to get my day started! I Love it, I Love You, keep being the unique and beautiful soul that you are. The journey continues…

    Reply
    • TyrannyofPink says

      4th September 2015 at 11:29 am

      Walter, thank you so much for this incredible comment. Your words mean so much to me!
      Love you to bits my friend!
      xxx

      Reply
  5. Bonnie says

    4th September 2015 at 7:44 am

    You are awesome and I am so proud of you and ALL the choices you’ve made for you life. Keep doing what makes you happy. Love you xxx

    Reply
    • TyrannyofPink says

      4th September 2015 at 11:27 am

      Thank you mom! That means so much to me! Love you too! xxx

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Jonelle

I write things, I make art, I like good food, wine, a whisky after a rough day and I’m always up for a new adventure. I believe we can all contribute to a better world and we should do it while living authentically. I answer to “mommy,” live in Wellington New Zealand with my family and work for Local Goverment. Welcome to my blog…

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