Parents Are the Key to a Successful Education

Education is a way for an individual to grow within him or herself to become more educated, and to thrive in life. In order to grow as an individual, you must first enjoy the adventure of planning, the thrill of accomplishment and yet be able to cope with the labors needed to succeed. Education provides an individual their path to a successful future, but only through hard work, dedication and determination is this achievable. Education requires a parent to mold a child into an individual that is capable of contributing effectively to society. The drive to learn must be aroused in children and started at an early age. One researcher concludes, “By the age of six the average child will have completed the basic American education and be ready to enter school. If the child has been attentive in these preschool years, he or she will already have mastered many skills.” (Baker, par.1) “College is an ideal place for those young adults who love learning for its own sake, who would rather read than eat, and who like nothing better than writing research papers.” (Bird, par.18) College may be part of the education process for some, but for others it may not be the best choice. While deciding if college is the right decision for a student, they need to figure out their reasons for attending. Are they attending for their own desires for their future, to party with their friends, or to honor their family’s wishes? Unfortunately, a child whom is considering an education may feel pressured and not ready to commit to college, yet they go to college just to appease their family. In 2001, my fiancé’s son’s senior year of high school was about to begin. During the summer vacation prior to his senior year, we had an in depth conversation about his pla...

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...ready to go to college at the age of 18. A university can only assist with providing an education to a student; a parent needs to provide guidance with education at an early age in life and continue throughout their educational career. Many people are doing fairly well without obtaining a 4-year degree, but to thrive in the economy we live in today an individual will become more successful and employable with a degree. The time to instill values of education is not when a child becomes a senior in high school; rather the time to start discussing educational values to a child, is the onset of school, preschool.

Works Cited

Baker, Russell. "School Vs. Education." New York Times. 1975.

Bird, Caroline. “College is a Waste of Time and Money” 1975 “The Case Against College”

Sherry, M. “In Praise of the F word.” Newsweek; 5/6/9, Vol. 117 Issue 18, p. 14, 2p, 1c