The solution is education

 “When everything else you’ve thought of failed, just think of Him.”

We always hear from our parents since time immemorial that the only legacy they could give us is the gift of education. Yes, education! Why? It’s because they don’t own anything of value on this earth except the education that they could provide us their children.

Material things may vanish. Money could be spent, jewelries could be lost, and cars could even be a cause of accident or death, but not education. It is the key to success. Once we’re educated, our knowledge will be broadened. This will serve as our shield against hardships we are encountering in life.

We’re happy to hear stories about people who rose from poverty because because of education, using knowledge to lead them to success. These people are now sitting on their laurels. They have happy and contented lives and have become smart.

I know someone in our barangay whose parents belonged to the poorest of the poor. They have six children, and this guy was the eldest. He went to elementary school without shoes or slippers. But he did not mind, what was important to him was he’s going to school everyday. He graduated valedictorian in his batch and accomplished the same in high school.

In college, he was a government scholar, enjoying 100 percent free tuition fee plus allowances. Part of the money given to him he saved and the rest went to his parents and siblings. To cut my story short this man is now working in a big company earning big.

What do I mean by this? Each one of us can be like him only if we value education in our life. When we attend school, we must be serious with our studies, put everything we’ve learned into good use. If we can follow these simple things we can be successful too.

On the other hand, those who went to school but did not take it seriously, what do you think happened to them? They did not succeed in life.

It is we who make our own destiny in life. If we remember the saying, “destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice”, we can escape poverty if we have the will power.

Indeed, if we just open our eyes and prioritize education in our life we could be like Henry Sy, John Gokongwei, Geny Lopez and the rest of the illustrious names in business. Now is the time to break the chain of poverty that bind us.

FELICITOS A. DEL ROSARIO III teaches at Benigno S. Aquino National High School, Concepcion, Tarlac.