Day 20 ~ School

Today = How important you think education is

Umm, very.

As far as elementary and high school education, that is vital.  Learning basic reading, writing, and math skills is critical.  Teachers who know how to tailor their lessons and work with students who learn differently are essential (and awesome and underpaid)!  It always makes me sad when we have defendants whose attorneys have to read everything to them because they never learned.  That is not a setup for success.

In my opinion, getting a college degree is not a necessity for everyone and not something you should pursue without a clear plan and ambition behind it.  Vocational schools and trade schools are also a good option - anything that sets you up to earn a better salary doing something you enjoy is worth working for.  (My Bachelor's degree is definitely more of a backup-plan at the moment, but I'm thankful I got it and thankful for all the people I met through that program!  I would have a Master's degree right now if I were better at making firm decisions, willing to spend thousands of dollars, and/or if SNU was capable of seeing my potential, but sadly, they were not. #lamesauce)

So yay for education, but boo for it being so costly and exclusive.  When a student with a 4.0 GPA and good recommendations who is willing to pay $40,000 for grad school is turned down and told that it's "outside their typical policy" to explain why, I say that's a problem.  I have been aware for years that the degree paths I am drawn to hold little earning potential (Theology, Biblical Studies, Psychology, etc.), and the degrees with high value hold precious little interest for me (Financial Management, Engineering, Business Management, etc.).  So I stick with court reporting and find time to write and do Bible study and learn about personality types on the side...

*On that side note, I think self-knowledge is undervalued and one of the most important things people can learn!  Understanding how you are uniquely wired -- your strengths and weaknesses and relational tendencies -- is extremely valuable in helping you become the best version of who God created you to be.  I'm definitely still learning and working on that, currently reading The Road Back to You (a Christian book about the Enneagram) and now I'm thinking I am actually a 9 on that scale... craziness!  More on that later.

Anyway, all of Oklahoma is under crazy tornado watches and warnings today, so I'll go ahead and head home and hope the storms pass over us.  Stay safe, OK friends!! ❤