Why Education is Important.

College education = Jobs. Simple as that. Why are we all in college? To gain knowledge that will help us in the 'real word,' to get jobs, and to be successful. Sure, that might be true for some of us, but for others it is not. For me, I fall somewhere in the middle. I am a true believer that you have to be passionate about everything that you do, so working towards some degree that you do not have a passion for is pointless in my eyes. Let's look at my own college experience thus far: I came in as a 17-year old student who dreamed of becoming an Orthopedic Surgeon. I had the normal course load of a freshman Biology major: Chemistry Lecture and Lab, Biology Lecture and Lab, Calculus, etc. I thought I was going to be fine. Little did I know, I had absolutely no passion for the subject matter that I was about to embark on. After two weeks I knew it was not for me. Luckily, my parents were there for me 100 percent and worked with me to help figure out a new major.

I decided, with their help and guidance, that I should pursue something that I am passionate about and interested in, so I decided to switch to English. No, I don't want to be a teacher - newsflash: you can pursue a multitude of things with an English degree. Also, don't think it is an easy major, because it is not. No major in college is easy. They all require hard work and diligence, so do not ever judge anyone on their major. It is their life, not yours. Moving on - I switched to an English major, transitioned to English classes, and fell in love with it. I was passionate about the subject matter, I was excited - it was just what I needed. About two months into it, I decided that I wanted to add a double major in Communication, which I had been planning to do by taking the Introduction to Communication 1014 class, which I had to pass to be eligible for the major. Long story short - I am now happily a double-major in English and Communication.

I thought about Law school for a while, but in the end decided it was not for me. So now I am on the Marketing/PR route, thanks to my internship with the Smithsonian Museum this summer.

SO. What is the point? you may ask. Well, let me tell you.

Education. We are here to do the following:
1. Learn
2. Grow
3. Network
4. Understand

If we do not understand what the point of education is, then we are all staring at an unknown path in front of us. What do you want to do with your life? That is the question. If you don't know, you will eventually figure it out. But that is what we are here for, to learn life lessons that will help you succeed in your life. Now, I don't just mean help you land a job, I mean help you understand the world that we live in. How others work, how the world operates, what politics are, what community service means, what relationships mean, what love is. That is what we learn in life - all of those matters combined.

I believe that the only way to be happy and successful in life is to do things that you are PASSIONATE about. Passion. That is what life is all about. Passion for your work, for your world, for your town, for your loved ones - that is the secret.

People who know me know how involved/busy I am. I always get comments like "Why do you do so much? Why are you so involved? Can you handle it all?" The answer is passion. I have a burning passion for everything that I do. I am a copy editor for the Collegiate Times and I absolutely love it. At times I complain about it - honestly, at times I complain about everything, but who doesn't - but I truly enjoy it. I get to help make people's stories pristine. I have the privilege of reading others words, the words that they have put hours into to get down on paper. I learn something new every single day from the writers I read. I am a Peer Leader for the Residential Leadership Community. I am not sure if I have ever done anything as rewarding as this experience - especially this semester. At times I am frustrated, and as Jake taught me tonight, sometimes I can venture close to the "Oh Shit" zone when I become stressed and put out of my comfort zone, but I am so proud to be doing what I am doing. Working with students to help them learn more about themselves and the program they are working in. Honestly, the class I am in this semester should be called "Leadership and Life" because that is exactly what it is. It is amazing. Words cannot even describe the passion that I have for it, and it grows every day. Homecoming Board - I get to network with alumni who LOVE Virginia Tech, how can it get any better than that? They are so willing to give back to our school to make it even better than it already is. Fundraising and networking with them is such an enjoyable experience. Big Event Committee. One day to give back to the Blacksburg and Christiansburg community. How can you even put that into words? This is what I am talking about. Passion. Passion for others, for your community, for your world, for your LIFE. Your life.

You only get one life, so you should live it how you want - full of passion and excitement for what YOU enjoy. Don't let others influence, you do what is best for you. Do what makes YOU happy. And that is why, as I write this, I am making a mental list of other things that I want to still become involved with at Tech. Education does not only take place in the classroom - it takes place in everyday events. And even though some may seem trivial, when closely examined, are some of the most meaningful occurences that will happen in your life. You are learning in every facet in your life. From your friends, professors, family members, peers, and strangers. You cannot ever escape education. I think that the point that I want you all to take away from this is that there is a world out there beyond textbooks and exams. There is a world that is waiting for you to explore and develop, because who knows, your next passion may be waiting for you right around the corner.