The Power of Education to Uplift, Empower, and Prepare Students for the Future

What is the Power of Education? 

Access to a quality education is one of the Sustainable Development Goals put forth by the United Nations as a key factor in escaping poverty and ensuring socioeconomic mobility. 

The pandemic only increased the barriers to receiving basic education, especially for marginalized people without access to technology. Online platforms are used by 83% of countries to continue the learning process, but this only reaches approximately a quarter of schoolchildren globally. 

YeSeul’s experience in recognizing the power of education came at a young age, as she described in the podcast episode. 

“I’m a first-generation Korean American, who witnessed firsthand the opportunities that education can provide for a single person. My parents both had to drop out of college, even though they did really well in high school. And in the 80s, that was fine. But as they got older, and as they became immigrants in a new country, just the fact that they didn’t have a college degree meant that they lost a lot of job opportunities. They were white-collar workers who became blue-collar workers.” 

Coming from this background, YeSeul’s career and passion kept circling back to inspiring others and harnessing education’s benefits for students from any background. 

What is the Importance of Education? 

The goal of true education is to provide knowledge that allows learners to dissect systems, develop opinions, and even strengthen character. Education’s purpose isn’t only to give children the necessary knowledge to pass tests, it helps develop critical thinking skills that help them interpret the latest news, make career moves, and become a lifelong student. An education helps lay the groundwork needed to feel confident in our abilities and helps us find our passions in life. It also teaches us to stay committed and gives us the ability to problem-solve. 

Gaining knowledge doesn’t only happen in classrooms; it extends far beyond our graduation days. In the workplace, in social circles, and while pursuing personal interests, we all have the opportunity to glean new knowledge that gives our life purpose. 

What are the Benefits of Education? 

Now, we’ll look at some of the global benefits of education and focus on the ways that educating a child can not only prepare them for university but also for a happy and fulfilling life. 

Reducing Inequality

Systems of oppression exist in many learning institutions for many students. Black students are more likely to be heavily disciplined and therefore spend less time in the classroom. They’re also less likely to have access to college readiness courses, and when they are out in those courses, they experience a severe lack of representation.

Young girls are less likely to receive adequate education, with only 39% of rural-living girls attending school globally. Women make up more than two thirds of the 796 million illiterate people in the world, despite each additional year of primary school increasing their eventual wages by 10–20%. 

Education, regardless of class, race, or gender, is essential to improving lives. Education is also our most powerful weapon against inequality in society. This is why investing in education around the globe is imperative. 

Improving the Economy

Knowledge pays! Skilled and educated workers make more money, which drives the economy. A recent study showed that increased math skills correlate to a salary increase of $21,000 per year. Not only does this increase generational wealth but it also benefits a country’s global domestic product (GDP) and spikes the entire economy, which is crucial as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Plus, having higher education gives people the ability to secure stable careers, which means they’re better able to provide their future children with those same learning opportunities. 

Boosting Health 

Education also has the power to increase our health. Studies have proven that educated people and their children are less likely to be obese and more likely to live healthy, active lifestyles. One particular study posited that health is actively deteriorating among less educated populations, which poses a great risk to society. 

Access to higher salaries also enables people to purchase healthy foods, spend time cooking meals, and exercising. 

The Future of Education 

Emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic is undoubtedly an ideal time for children and teachers alike to ponder the future of education. But as we reconvene for in-person classes, graduations, and events, it’s important to have a technological component embedded within modern education. There was explosive growth during the pandemic for these tools out of necessity, but H-FARM, where YeSeul works, is going one step further by implementing a virtual reality classroom, giving students the ability to safely convene for learning. 

YeSeul outlined her excitement: “I’m just really looking forward to the launch of our virtual reality school that I think can be a game-changer in education to increase the accessibility of high-quality education, teaching, and more, so we can build a community by using the strength of the Internet and social networks.” 

Making education more accessible is in everyone’s best interest. An educated mind is an invaluable tool to help achieve global goals, ensure human rights, and truly change lives.