If you have something valuable please pass it on.
I’m not talking about a diamond bracelet or a home in France. I’m thinking of an education. My parents were affluent enough to pay my way, although I did work during the summers. I never really earned enough to pay for everything; tuition, board and room, transportation, text books and clothing.
There were students who did pay their own way, and I salute them, and I hope life has rewarded them for their ambition and pluck. They certainly deserve it. It can’t have been easy, but it points out what can be accomplished if you want it badly enough.
There were students who worked at night, those who house (or baby) sat, part-time to pay for text books or to pay for clothing.
May I suggest students visit a university or college during the summer, when they’ll likely find used text books, some with valuable (or mis-leading) underlined sections at a greatly reduced price. New textbooks are almost always a terrible price. The book stores know you have to have them and they are in the business of making money. So used texts are almost always available in the early days of September when you’ll have a list of the books necessary for the courses you’ll need to become: a) a brain surgeon; b) a lawyer, or; c) a beloved kindergarten teacher.
It’s a very exciting time, getting everything ready for nine months of studying, meeting new people, reading and writing exams, learning about life. It’s a lot of work but it is a wonderful experience. You’ll never regret it, or forget it and I hope you recall all the good stuff and realize the lasting value of a decent education.
Even now, in my 90s, I’m using my education to write a gardening column. I love the challenge and believe it or not, folks are still reading it (not so much for the so-called “expertise,” but the light-hearted way it is presented — a reader told me so and I’m delighted he is reading it for whatever reason!
I Just sent a happy “WHOOP’ from the balcony. Do you suppose that’s why I hear several sirens and see a couple of police cars approaching? I’m outta here!