The Value of Education

[Erin Painter Baker]

I got the impression from reading the sample of this book, that education was important as an opportunity provider - gateway to a broader world. I also felt as though 'medals' - grades, social status, self-motivation, were a higher focus than what the good doctor learned or how he was taught in school. What he learned came out more in his day to day interactions with the world, rather than in the classroom. I realize this man grew up in a different country and in a different time period of education, but I do have higher hopes for education than simply grades achievement.

I think everyone has higher hopes for education than simply grades achievement. That said, for the author, grades achievement was a prerequisite to success. Without his good grades, he would not have been able to go past primary school, or gotten Fulbright Scholarship that brought him to the United States. In this case he had to have those good grades. Without them, his life would have been a very different story. As he says at one point, maybe he would have become a Postman.

In this way, the author's focus on his grades is the same as a professional athlete focusing on winning games in high school and college. We all know that being on a sports team is about more than winning and losing, and that it develops all sorts of different skills in people. But for someone to become a professional athlete, they have to get noticed in high school by the college recruiters, and then in college, they have to get noticed by the talent scouts for the teams. Winning games is how that is done.

Dr Douglas focuses on his grades because his grades are what got him noticed. They are what got him his opportunities.

[MatereF]

There was definitely an emphasis on education. I think the author focused on his academic achievements to inspire others more than to set himself apart. Knowing how hard it is to overcome obstacles in life I think he wanted others to see that regardless of those obstacles if you find something you are good at, and really apply yourself to doing it to the best of your ability, you can overcome anything. He realized the importance of education and wanted others to see it too.

I agree with your sentiments.

[MatereF]

I got the impression from reading the sample of this book, that education was important as an opportunity provider - gateway to a broader world. I also felt as though 'medals' - grades, social status, self-motivation, were a higher focus than what the good doctor learned or how he was taught in school. What he learned came out more in his day to day interactions with the world, rather than in the classroom. I realize this man grew up in a different country and in a different time period of education, but I do have higher hopes for education than simply grades achievement.

I think everyone has higher hopes for education than simply grades achievement. That said, for the author, grades achievement was a prerequisite to success. Without his good grades, he would not have been able to go past primary school, or gotten Fulbright Scholarship that brought him to the United States. In this case he had to have those good grades. Without them, his life would have been a very different story. As he says at one point, maybe he would have become a Postman.

In this way, the author's focus on his grades is the same as a professional athlete focusing on winning games in high school and college. We all know that being on a sports team is about more than winning and losing, and that it develops all sorts of different skills in people. But for someone to become a professional athlete, they have to get noticed in high school by the college recruiters, and then in college, they have to get noticed by the talent scouts for the teams. Winning games is how that is done.

Dr Douglas focuses on his grades because his grades are what got him noticed. They are what got him his opportunities.

What a great observation, the point on athletes is so true. The good grades did get him noticed.

[Nisha Ward]

I got the impression from reading the sample of this book, that education was important as an opportunity provider - gateway to a broader world. I also felt as though 'medals' - grades, social status, self-motivation, were a higher focus than what the good doctor learned or how he was taught in school. What he learned came out more in his day to day interactions with the world, rather than in the classroom. I realize this man grew up in a different country and in a different time period of education, but I do have higher hopes for education than simply grades achievement.

I think everyone has higher hopes for education than simply grades achievement. That said, for the author, grades achievement was a prerequisite to success. Without his good grades, he would not have been able to go past primary school, or gotten Fulbright Scholarship that brought him to the United States. In this case he had to have those good grades. Without them, his life would have been a very different story. As he says at one point, maybe he would have become a Postman.

In this way, the author's focus on his grades is the same as a professional athlete focusing on winning games in high school and college. We all know that being on a sports team is about more than winning and losing, and that it develops all sorts of different skills in people. But for someone to become a professional athlete, they have to get noticed in high school by the college recruiters, and then in college, they have to get noticed by the talent scouts for the teams. Winning games is how that is done.

Dr Douglas focuses on his grades because his grades are what got him noticed. They are what got him his opportunities.

I can't speak for Guyana, but a trend in the Caribbean in general is to aim for schools outside of the region as we still have this idea that they're much higher prestige than our own institutions. Dr. Douglas' focus on high grade achievement isn't unique in that regard, I think, as you've rightly said that it was the key for his success.

[BrittaniDJ]

I got the impression from reading the sample of this book, that education was important as an opportunity provider - gateway to a broader world. I also felt as though 'medals' - grades, social status, self-motivation, were a higher focus than what the good doctor learned or how he was taught in school. What he learned came out more in his day to day interactions with the world, rather than in the classroom. I realize this man grew up in a different country and in a different time period of education, but I do have higher hopes for education than simply grades achievement.

I think everyone has higher hopes for education than simply grades achievement. That said, for the author, grades achievement was a prerequisite to success. Without his good grades, he would not have been able to go past primary school, or gotten Fulbright Scholarship that brought him to the United States. In this case he had to have those good grades. Without them, his life would have been a very different story. As he says at one point, maybe he would have become a Postman.

In this way, the author's focus on his grades is the same as a professional athlete focusing on winning games in high school and college. We all know that being on a sports team is about more than winning and losing, and that it develops all sorts of different skills in people. But for someone to become a professional athlete, they have to get noticed in high school by the college recruiters, and then in college, they have to get noticed by the talent scouts for the teams. Winning games is how that is done.

Dr Douglas focuses on his grades because his grades are what got him noticed. They are what got him his opportunities.

This makes a lot of sense. Thank you for your insight.

[Ferdinand_Otieno]

I got the impression from reading the sample of this book, that education was important as an opportunity provider - gateway to a broader world. I also felt as though 'medals' - grades, social status, self-motivation, were a higher focus than what the good doctor learned or how he was taught in school. What he learned came out more in his day to day interactions with the world, rather than in the classroom. I realize this man grew up in a different country and in a different time period of education, but I do have higher hopes for education than simply grades achievement.

I think everyone has higher hopes for education than simply grades achievement. That said, for the author, grades achievement was a prerequisite to success. Without his good grades, he would not have been able to go past primary school, or gotten Fulbright Scholarship that brought him to the United States. In this case he had to have those good grades. Without them, his life would have been a very different story. As he says at one point, maybe he would have become a Postman.

In this way, the author's focus on his grades is the same as a professional athlete focusing on winning games in high school and college. We all know that being on a sports team is about more than winning and losing, and that it develops all sorts of different skills in people. But for someone to become a professional athlete, they have to get noticed in high school by the college recruiters, and then in college, they have to get noticed by the talent scouts for the teams. Winning games is how that is done.

Dr Douglas focuses on his grades because his grades are what got him noticed. They are what got him his opportunities.

This makes a lot of sense. Thank you for your insight.

That's a very inciteful and well-needed perspective, I apreciate it and agree qith you completely.

[Wriley]

Frank also had a strong work ethic. Frank seems to be smart naturally so his work ethic is really what set him apart. Frank saw education as a way out of his current situation. He appreciated his opportunities. There are thousands of people who would like to be doctors but don't have the natural ability to memorize and understand scientific terms. That may sound harsh but colleges make Biology 101 classes especially difficult for that reason or least that's what the head of the Biology department of the college I graduated from said. Frank had the mind but also the drive.

[Ferdinand_Otieno]

Frank also had a strong work ethic. Frank seems to be smart naturally so his work ethic is really what set him apart. Frank saw education as a way out of his current situation. He appreciated his opportunities. There are thousands of people who would like to be doctors but don't have the natural ability to memorize and understand scientific terms. That may sound harsh but colleges make Biology 101 classes especially difficult for that reason or least that's what the head of the Biology department of the college I graduated from said. Frank had the mind but also the drive.

I agree with your assessment. The author saw education as a way out of his current state and strived to be the best at it.

[Nisha Ward]

Frank also had a strong work ethic. Frank seems to be smart naturally so his work ethic is really what set him apart. Frank saw education as a way out of his current situation. He appreciated his opportunities. There are thousands of people who would like to be doctors but don't have the natural ability to memorize and understand scientific terms. That may sound harsh but colleges make Biology 101 classes especially difficult for that reason or least that's what the head of the Biology department of the college I graduated from said. Frank had the mind but also the drive.

Pretty much yeah. It's kind of a paradox. If you work hard, the work is relatively simple and easy to figure out but if you're a slacker, it's really hard. The system is designed to separate the workers from the slackers, I think, and it's good that Frank recognised that early, given that education is what helped him not just to succeed but to recognise his own worth in the face of some pretty heavy discrimination.

[cdhundley]

I only read the sample, but the component of education that made at least what I read compelling, was not just having education for its own sake, but the search for knowledge. The author's incessant questioning of his environment and inherent nature illustrated his own strong intellectual curiosity - the foundation of scientific and philosophical/spiritual inquiry. It seems like the book details a lifelong pursuit for knowledge, which is as it should be.

[Katherine Smith]

I think that the author wanted to achieve as much academic success as possible to become better than his surroundings. I also think that it was a way to divert attention away from the obstacles that were in his life. I think that the author wanted recognition just like anyone does when they are overlooked.

[Ferdinand_Otieno]

I think that the author wanted to achieve as much academic success as possible to become better than his surroundings. I also think that it was a way to divert attention away from the obstacles that were in his life. I think that the author wanted recognition just like anyone does when they are overlooked.

Yes, in finding something that could draw his entire focus and that he excelled in, he was able to use education to distract from the other obstacles in his life.

[Nisha Ward]

I only read the sample, but the component of education that made at least what I read compelling, was not just having education for its own sake, but the search for knowledge. The author's incessant questioning of his environment and inherent nature illustrated his own strong intellectual curiosity - the foundation of scientific and philosophical/spiritual inquiry. It seems like the book details a lifelong pursuit for knowledge, which is as it should be.

It truly does and it only serves to make the author a better person too.

[Ferdinand_Otieno]

I only read the sample, but the component of education that made at least what I read compelling, was not just having education for its own sake, but the search for knowledge. The author's incessant questioning of his environment and inherent nature illustrated his own strong intellectual curiosity - the foundation of scientific and philosophical/spiritual inquiry. It seems like the book details a lifelong pursuit for knowledge, which is as it should be.

It truly does and it only serves to make the author a better person too.

That need and hunger for knowledge served him well and focussed his goals going through his educational journey.

[briellejee]

I got the impression from reading the sample of this book, that education was important as an opportunity provider - gateway to a broader world. I also felt as though 'medals' - grades, social status, self-motivation, were a higher focus than what the good doctor learned or how he was taught in school. What he learned came out more in his day to day interactions with the world, rather than in the classroom. I realize this man grew up in a different country and in a different time period of education, but I do have higher hopes for education than simply grades achievement.

I think everyone has higher hopes for education than simply grades achievement. That said, for the author, grades achievement was a prerequisite to success. Without his good grades, he would not have been able to go past primary school, or gotten Fulbright Scholarship that brought him to the United States. In this case he had to have those good grades. Without them, his life would have been a very different story. As he says at one point, maybe he would have become a Postman.

In this way, the author's focus on his grades is the same as a professional athlete focusing on winning games in high school and college. We all know that being on a sports team is about more than winning and losing, and that it develops all sorts of different skills in people. But for someone to become a professional athlete, they have to get noticed in high school by the college recruiters, and then in college, they have to get noticed by the talent scouts for the teams. Winning games is how that is done.

Dr Douglas focuses on his grades because his grades are what got him noticed. They are what got him his opportunities.

Wow, you're analogy about making the sports team and grades and opportunities really do make it clear about this topic.