Christine+G.

Kids from the age of 10 to 20 are told that education is the best thing for them. That they need to study as hard as they can in school so that they can get into a good college and then as hard as they can in college so that they can get a good job. Then the requirements change: work as hard as you can and earn as much money as possible so that you can live a comfortable life. What drives modern students to learn is not curiosity, passion, or interest, but greed installed in them by their parents and upheld by each learning institution that they enter. Few people have the bravery to stand out and study what they are passionate about, no matter the obstacles they face. Of course there are the few who are genuinely interested in the histories of past civilizations, the laws that govern the universe, the natural wonders of the world, or the complexities of literature. These people stand out in schools, companies, and research institutes. They are the ones that change the norms of their field. However, instead of following their dreams the majority of students turn to the money making industry of business. But what in our society begins this morph away from passion and toward money? Some argue that it is the result of a capitalistic economy, others the cause of hardship in the lives on family members, but personally I think it is the result of our educational system. Kids aspire to get ‘A’s, not learn the material, colleges mostly take into consideration two details about a student when they are examined for admission: their total grade point average and their standardized test scores. But what do these numbers really tell about the youth of our nation? That they figured out how to effectively learn the course material and take a single test? What will each of those details do for them in life? The ‘standardized’ test can be conquered and GPA’s often do not show the level of work a student puts into a subject. I agree that education is the best thing for a person, no matter weather their flaw is being too rich or poor, too young or old, too ignorant or well versed. Everyone can always benefit from learning in any field. I believe that this concept is what is lacking the educational system of our country. People think ‘when am I ever going to use this’ and become disinterested in a topic. They over or under specialize in college and cannot carry on a intelligent conversation with educated individuals. But this leads us back to where do students get their motivation to learn. Is it from their parents? their schools? their own passions? At some point one hopes that the individual’s desire to learn will propel them through learning institutions and into a job that they enjoy, but for thousands this is not the case. We need to reform our system so that people feel motivated in their occupations and extended educations. Competition is necessary in schools, but potentially not to the extent that it is present today.
 * Where Is the Passion in Education?**