"Education comes from within; you get it by struggle and effort and thought." -Napoleon Hill
Storyline:
Some years ago, I took two friends to a party hosted by a successful and well-known local businessman. One of these friends had graduated from Stanford, while the other carried triple crown honors: a Bachelors from M.I.T, a Masters from Harvard and a Ph.D from Stanford.
Our host was very cordial and down-to-earth, and my friends spent considerable time conversing with him. They were very impressed with his knowledge of world affairs and business, his positive attitude and the way he treated people.
On the way back, I casually mentioned to them that our host had been profiled in the Bicentennial issue of Time magazine (covering a story of successful immigrants) and that he has also been featured on TV and in newspapers.
One of the guys asked "Which university did he go to and what did he major in?"
I said, "He has only been through elementary school. After that, he was sent to Africa for labor jobs to support his family. From there he went to England and worked in a machine shop, saved money and came to America to start a business. Now he is living the American Dream."
Said the other friend, "But talking to him, I felt he was very educated. It's difficult to believe that he does not have a degree!"
Too often, we mix up a Degree and an Education.
We get a "Degree" by demonstrating a certain level of proficiency in certain field: e.g. science, arts, business, etc.
Whereas we demonstrate "Education" through things such as: how we respect and treat every individual, how we handle difficulties and successes, our value system, our character, the type of choices that we make.
Reflection:
Most resumes of job applicants list degrees under the "Education" section. But the real proof of education lies in the section called "Experience" and how the person has handled those experiences.