EDUCATION changes the lives of people. Jess (his real name) was a clerk at the Fiscal’s Office. He was eager to learn. He wanted to be an accountant but he failed to pass the Certified Public Accountant exams. He was disappointed but thought positively, so he chose to enroll in the local law school.
He was familiar with criminal complaints so it was easier to understand the course. He graduated with the law course and proceeded to take the bar. He passed the nerve wrecking bar exams and he was immediately absorbed as a special prosecutor of the Province.
Years passed when the post of a regional state prosecutor was vacated, Jess was a logical candidate and so he was appointed. From a lowly clerk to the head of the Central Luzon’s Regional Prosecutors, this becomes possible because of education.
Jun (not his real name) was about to graduate in the Philippine Military Academy. He chose to get married so he was booted of the academy. He was half-baked so he became unemployed. He had no means of livelihood. He became a mendicant. He was penniless so just to live, he approached his friends for dole-outs.
His classmates at the Academy became officers of the police and military. He was a batch mate of Gen. Oscar Albayalde. He could have been their mista in uniform but he quit his schooling. The result was disastrous. He became unhappy. He was shattered. Soon after, he died a poor man.
We are shaped by the decisions we take. Jess became successful. Jun was a failure. What made the difference – the decision to finish or quit schooling.