Higher Education

So lucky, the educated. So learned. We live in an enlightened age where, thanks to public libraries and student loans, education is there for the taking. Minimal struggle for even the poorest, most underprivileged individuals. Go and learn (or become employable.)

How many people do you know who have been to college?
Now, how many people do you know who have become better people because of it?
Now, really, how many people do you know who think they are better than other people because of it?

What have we learned? I know so many educated people who use their learning as a weapon, a point of contention, a vile act of snobbery, a means to the monetary and much worse. What became of wisdom?

Every person I know who attended an Ivy League or expensive school of reputation is compelled to mention where they went to school at least ten times a day. "I forgot to buy carrots - there's that Harvard education for you!" "This is the same kind of grass that grew on the ground when I was at Harvard." "Excuse me, I went to Harvard, do you have the time?"

Beg pardon, graduates, you are not leaving the impression that you think you are. A diploma is not a personality, nor the measure of your character, smart or no. People should not be arrogant about such things in this day and age, these schools are big and very old, by name indicating that it has all been done before! The compulsion to name-drop belies insecurity, and for that I have compassion. Undoubtedly there is hard work behind those high-falutin' educations, years of pressure and toil to emerge into a world you must think ready to bend to you, only to discover that Sally J. Housecoat took physics at Community College and John Q. Lunchbox read Ulysses for fun. And they see right through you. All that's left for you now is that internship at The New York Times, which you can impressively name-drop while you're at The New York Times or Harvard Alumni meetings. Your world gets smaller, and thus the chance for true knowledge diminishes even more.

Learning is the greatest thing we can do, school is a wonderful place to do it, but if you look down on other people who haven't had the advantage yet, you missed the point. If you are lucky enough to know, be grateful, and be ready for the many teachers yet to come. That'll learn ya.