HIGHER EDUCATION VERSUS SKILL ACQUISITION
“When you study, you become great,
And if you play, your life is in vain”.
This is the favourite phrase of every typical mother and father to emotionally blackmail their children into not playing or having a little breather in their boring lives. It’s certainly not wrong to say that most of the “DESI” parents are pretty good at suppressing their children’s desires and forcing their own on them. Same was also the story of a boy from Ranchi who had a tough childhood, not financially, but because he was asked to give up his dream of becoming a cricketer as his father wanted him to join the civil service. What if the boy had bowed to his father’s pressure? What if the boy had given up his dream? What if the boy had learned to come to terms with his own wishes? Then perhaps the world would never have known the “Mahi” we all know today as Mahinder Singh Dhoni, without whom The Indian cricket is incomplete. The view that sports is meaningless has its roots in the idea that Virat Kohli, Mary Kom, Sania Mirza, Milkha Singh and all the countless sportspersons and players of India are popular for no reason. So why diminish their success by belittling sports as a passion?
And it’s not just sports that parents reject, but children who aspire to a career as an actor, dancer, singer, chef, artist, writer or whatever that focuses on skill enhancement, go through the same dilemma! The crux of the matter is that most of the parents believe that their children will only be successful if they take entrance exams and work in an office every day. They are firm with the belief that:
“Only study takes you to respect and prosperity”.
But is success or progress really limited to a degree or good grades? Can’t you be successful without pursuing higher education? Let’s find out the answer by making a comparison between two often-discussed concepts: Higher education and skill acquisition.
| HIGHER EDUCATION | SKILL ACQUISITION |
| Higher education is tertiary education leading to the award of an academic degree | Skill acquisition refers to acquiring, developing, and improving specific skills or abilities through learning and practice |
| Higher education is a rich cultural and scientific asset which enables personal development and promotes economic, technological and social change. It promotes the exchange of knowledge, research and innovation and equips students with the skills needed to meet ever changing labour markets | It fosters your personal growth and intellectual stimulation, expand knowledge, and broaden horizons. Secondly, acquiring in-demand skills enhances employability, increasing market value and career prospects. |
It’s not a matter of one being better than the other; they complement each other. Education provides knowledge and understanding, while skills are the practical application of that knowledge. Both are valuable and necessary for success in various aspects of life. We are in the 21st century. We have come a long way and have an even longer way to go. Education, once endemic only to the rich, is now the basic requirement for all. It is the most powerful weapon, as Nelson Mandela said. But I would like to add that one can use education as the greatest weapon, only if it is relished properly, which is possible only if it is enjoyed. No matter how hard a person tries, he can’t make the best out of something he dislikes or is uninterested in. How could a person fascinated of badminton, become a surgeon? How could a person passionate about being a chef, focus on computer sciences? Success doesn’t only mean sitting on a big chair, at a higher position, and signing official documents. Success is also representing your country at some level, winning competitions in your field and bringing pride to the entire nation! Success is not regretting your decisions; it is being proud on yourself! Follow your passion, no matter where it takes you. It is all about an individual’s choice. If you look at it closely, it is not wrong to say that higher education and the acquisition of skills go hand in hand. A person who is interested in cooking can take home economics as a subject after school and thus acquire a proper “degree” in the subject. A person who is passionate about becoming a dancer can attend an academy and earn a doctorate in that field. The same applies to all other hobbies. You can excel in any profession you take up. It’s just a matter of making the right choice.
Is Alia Bhatt, who has just dropped out of class 12, not successful?
Isn’t Virat Kohli, who has done only Class 12, known, and respected all over the world as a legendary personality?
Isn’t Sania Nehwal hailed as THE WORLD No. 1 by the whole world?
What degree do they have? What office do they hold? They are the best examples that nowadays it is not only education but also passion that takes you to the top of the world.
Let us break the concept that success depends only on academic certificates and let the whole world know that we, the new generation, are capable of anything. Education is a basic requirement, but it is not the one and only path to success. Just do your best and remember that there is life beyond the grades. So, follow your passion, whatever it may be, and do your best, no matter what it is.
By: Prabhgun Kaur
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